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fibula

[fib-yuh-luh]
noun, plural fib·u·lae [fib-yuh-lee] /ˈfɪb yəˌli/, fib·u·las.
  1. Anatomy. the outer and thinner of the two bones of the human leg, extending from the knee to the ankle.
  2. Zoology. a corresponding bone, often rudimentary or ankylosed with the tibia, of the leg or hind limb of an animal.
  3. a clasp or brooch, often ornamented, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
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Origin of fibula

1665–75; < New Latin; Latin fībula bolt, pin, clasp, probably < *fīvibula, equivalent to fīv(ere), early form of fīgere to fasten, fix + -i- -i- + -bula suffix denoting instrument; the bone so called from its resemblance to the tongue of a clasp
Related formsfib·u·lar, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fibular

Historical Examples

  • The fibular crest is longitudinal on the lateral surface of the tibiotarsus and fuses with the middle part of the fibula.

    Variation in the Muscles and Nerves of the Leg in

    E. Bruce Holmes

  • The fibular tubercle is small and on the lateral surface of the fibula near the level of the middle of the fibular crest.

  • The fibular arm (broadest of the three) passes deep to, and fused with, the common tendon of origin of the lateral heads of Mm.

  • The ball lies on the fibular side superficially, just in front of the fibula.

  • As the fibular shadow is about the normal size and clearly outlined, the fibular side of the leg lay next to the plate.

British Dictionary definitions for fibular

fibula

noun plural -lae (-ˌliː) or -las
  1. the outer and thinner of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the human legCompare tibia
  2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
  3. a metal brooch resembling a safety pin, often highly decorated, common in Europe after 1300 bc
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Derived Formsfibular, adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin: clasp, probably from fīgere to fasten
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fibular

fibula

n.

1670s, "clasp, buckle, brooch;" 1706 as "smaller bone in the lower leg," from Latin fibula "clasp, brooch," related to figere "to fasten, fix" (see fix (v.)).

Used in reference to the outer leg bone as a loan-translation of Greek perone "small bone in the lower leg," originally "clasp, brooch; anything pointed for piercing or pinning;" the bone was so called because it resembles a clasp like a modern safety pin.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
fibular in Medicine

fibula

(fĭb′yə-lə)
n. pl. fib•u•las
  1. The outer, narrower, and smaller of the two bones of the human lower leg, extending from the knee to the ankle, and articulating with the tibia above and the tibia and talus below.calf bone
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Related formsfib′u•lar (-lər) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
fibular in Science

fibula

[fĭb′yə-lə]
Plural fibulae (fĭb′yə-lē′) fibulas
  1. The smaller of the two bones of the lower leg or lower portion of the hind leg. See more at skeleton.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.