how the word charliehorse came to be?

Answer 1

charley horse

Cramp or stiffness in a muscle, most often in the thigh, as in After working in the garden I frequently get a bad charley horse. First used in the 1880s among baseball players, the term was soon extended to more general use. Its true origin is disputed. Among the more likely theories proposed is that it alludes to the name of either a horse or an afflicted ball player who limped like one of the elderly draft horses formerly employed to drag the infield.

Answer 2

From Word Origins:

Charley Horse

This term for a cramp or pulled muscle in the leg is originally a baseball term, or at least it first gained widespread use in baseball jargon. The reference is a mystery. No one knows who Charley was or why he may have had a lame horse.

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Answer 3

The origin of this term is unclear. There are a number of possibilities. One derivation that seems likely but hasn't been proved traces 'charley horse' to the constables, or Charleys, of 17th century England. According to this theory, 'Charleys,' for 'local police,' survived in America through the 19th century and because aching legs were an occupational disease among Charleys,' ballplayers suffering from aching legs were compared to these police and said to be 'weary from riding Charley's horse.'

Related possibilities are discussed at these links. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

A horse stepped on Charlie's leg.