Have any of you ever heard or seen this expression for a man bowing to someone of higher rank?  

Robert Jordan uses this redundantly in his Wheel of Time series.  Is this possibly a phrase from the southern US, home of Robert Jordan?

Never heard this expression before, rosewoman… Although in my search I did find a charming reference to this practice from Renaissance times:

Making a Leg

The calf of a man’s leg was a very important focal point in Renaissance fashion. Men took every opportunity to show off this physical attribute. Men wore stockings and short pants. They would often stand and "present" their leg forward, turning the foot outward so as to show off their calf. This practice was called "making a leg". If a man was especially proud of his calves, he might stand with a foot on a chair, table, or rock, so is calf would be that much more prominent.

From Carolina Renaissance Festival Study Guide.

-Tim

You know, now that you mention it, I do remember that in paintings of the time.

How odd!

"Of all the fools, making a leg for a married woman of her stature and virtue."

Sitran

English seems to have quite a few legs in its idioms…

*anyone from the ren faires could explain the finer points of "making a leg".

*our "active", contemporary lifestyle has contributed "shaking a leg", although I don’t know whether damoselles would find that as riveting.

*and any actor, Shakespearean or not, is happy to receive wishes for "breaking a leg".