ankle

[ang-kuhl]

noun

1. (in humans) the joint between the foot and the leg, in which movement occurs in two planes.

2. the corresponding joint in a quadruped or bird; hock.

3. the slender part of the leg above the foot.

ankle

/ ˈæŋkəl /

noun

1. the joint connecting the leg and the foot See talus 1

2. the part of the leg just above the foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of ankle¹

First recorded before 1000; partly from Middle English ankel, enkel, ankyl, cognate with Middle Low German, Dutch enkel, Old Frisian ankel, Old High German anchal, enchil, Old Norse ǫkkul (from unrecorded ankula); partly from Middle English anclowe, oncleou, Old English anclēow, onclēow, cognate with Middle Low German anclef, Dutch anklāw, Old High German anchlāo; akin to Latin angulus “corner, angle,” Greek ankúlos “bent, crooked,” and ankṓn “bend of the arm, elbow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ankle¹

C14: from Old Norse; related to German, Dutch enkel, Latin angulus _angle ¹

Example Sentences

As he ran with a full box, he fell on the uneven ground and twisted his ankle.

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For Waymond Jordan, ankle surgery meant missing most of the Trojans’ critical stretch run.

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Or his ankles swelling to often alarming sizes.

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Once Woo reaches my ankles, the sand carrying him explodes into a rising tower that stops right at my face.

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“Froggish voice,” “dangerously thin ankles,” “failure to smile,” “too much smiling”—these reasons and more were given by the Incorrigibles to rule out one candidate after another.

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Related Words

• bone