ankle
UK[ˈæŋkl]US[ˈæŋkl]
n
The joint connecting the foot with the leg.
Etymology
The word 'ankle' has a long history in the Germanic languages, tracing back to the Proto-Germanic root ankulaz. This term is thought to have originally referred to a bend or an angle, a sense which is still evident in the joint's function. It is cognate with Old English ancleow, Old Frisian onkle, and Old Norse ökkla. The ultimate origin may lie in the Proto-Indo-European root h₂eng- meaning 'to bend', linking the anatomical feature to the concept of a flexible joint.
Analysis
The word 'ankle' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She twisted her ankle while hiking on the rocky trail.
The cuff of his trousers rested just above the ankle.
A sharp pain shot through his ankle with every step.