jake leg

noun

ˈjāk-ˌleg

-ˌlāg

: a paralysis caused by drinking improperly distilled or contaminated liquor

Word History

Etymology

jake grain alcohol flavored with an alcoholic extract of ginger

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of jake leg was in 1932

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

jake

jake leg

jakes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Jake leg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jake%20leg. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

jake leg

noun

ˈjā-ˌkleg, -ˌklāg

: a paralysis caused by drinking improperly distilled or contaminated liquor

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

verbose

Listen to the pronunciation of verbose

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Should that word have a hyphen?

Rack vs. Wrack

Are 'Funner' and 'Funnest' Real Words?

Popular in Wordplay

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

Popular

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World