calcaneus

[kal-key-nee-uhs]

noun

plural

calcanei 

1. Anatomy.,  the largest tarsal bone, forming the prominence of the heel.

2. Zoology.,  the corresponding bone in other vertebrates.

calcaneus

/ kælˈkeɪnɪəm, kælˈkeɪnɪəs /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: heel bone. the largest tarsal bone, forming the heel in man

2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

Other Word Forms

• calcaneal adjective
• calcanean adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of calcaneus¹

1920–25; < Late Latin: heel, noun use of calcāneus of the heel; calcaneum

Word History and Origins

Origin of calcaneus¹

C19: from Late Latin: heel, from Latin calx heel

Example Sentences

“Guys, so, I have a broken calcaneus,” Cudi posted Wednesday on social media.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Leaving no bone unturned, Inskip led the research team in testing small amounts of bone from a metatarsal, talus, calcaneus, and both fibulae for the presence of M. leprae DNA.

Read more on Forbes

When doctors simplify medical jargon like "calcaneus" to "heel bone," that helps.

Read more on US News

Far from being like a tarsier's calcaneus, the bone is more reminiscent of what one would expect in an anthropoid.

Read more on BBC

I had an injury — I had broken my left calcaneus, my heel bone — and I needed to take a little while to physically heal.

Read more on Seattle Times