talus

¹

[tey-luhs]

noun

Anatomy.

plural

tali 

1. the uppermost bone of the proximal row of bones of the tarsus; anklebone.

talus

²

[tey-luhs, tal-uhs]

noun

plural

taluses 

1. a slope.

2. Geology.,  a sloping mass of rocky fragments at the base of a cliff.

3. Fortification.,  the slope of the face of a work.

talus

¹

/ ˈteɪləs /

noun

1. geology another name for scree

2. fortifications the sloping side of a wall

talus

²

/ ˈteɪləs /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: anklebone. the bone of the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle joint

talus

¹

plural

taluses 

1. Rock fragments that have accumulated at the base of a cliff or slope.

2. ◆ The concave slope formed by such an accumulation of rock fragments is called a talus slope.

talus

²

plural

tali 

1. The bone of the ankle that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint.

Word History and Origins

Origin of talus¹

First recorded in 1685–95, talus is from the Latin word tālus ankle, anklebone, die. See tassel

Origin of talus²

1635–45; < French: pseudo-learned alteration of Old French talu slope < Latin talūtium gold-bearing slope or talus ( Vulgar Latin: slope), perhaps of Iberian origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of talus¹

C17: from French, from Latin talūtium slope, perhaps of Iberian origin

Origin of talus²

C18: from Latin: ankle

Related Words

• bluff 
• cliff 
• dune 
• highland 
• hillside 
• hilltop 
• ridge 
• slope