mechanical leg
Unicode: 1F9BF
Description
A crutch, typically made of metal, with an arm cuff and a handgrip, used as a mobility aid to support a person who has difficulty walking. It is usually depicted with the handgrip facing to the right.
Group:
People & Body > body-parts
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Neutral, or associated with concepts of support, injury, recovery, disability, and medical assistance.
Backstory
The crutch emoji was introduced in Unicode 12.0 (2019) as part of an effort to expand representation for people with disabilities and various accessibility tools. It helps to communicate topics related to health, recovery, and living with disabilities.
Usage Examples
- Talking about an injury: 'I think I'll be on crutches for a few weeks 🩹🤕🦵'
- Discussing rehabilitation: 'Physical therapy is going well, almost off my crutches! 🚶♀️'
- Representing accessibility: 'This building has great accessibility features, including ramps and supportive devices ♿️🏥'
- Metaphorical use: 'I feel like I need a crutch to get through this project.' (though less common)
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely understood as a medical device for temporary or permanent mobility impairment. Can metaphorically represent needing support or assistance.
East Asian culture:
Similar understanding as a medical aid. Might be used to imply someone needs help or is in a fragile state.