haunch
UK[hɔːntʃ]US[hɔːntʃ]
n
The fleshy part of the body between the waist and the thigh, especially in a human or animal.
n
The leg and loin of a deer, boar, or other animal as food.
n
The side of an arch, between the crown and the abutment.
Etymology
The word 'haunch' entered English from Old French 'hanche' in the 13th century, a term likely borrowed from a Germanic language such as Frankish. Its ultimate origin is traced to the Proto-Germanic root 'hankōn-', which referred to a bend or curve, possibly of the leg. This etymological journey reflects a common pattern where a concrete, anatomical term passes from a Germanic language into Vulgar Latin and Old French, before being adopted into Middle English. The core semantic concept has remained remarkably stable, consistently denoting the hip, buttock, or upper thigh—the prominent curved part of the body where the leg joins the torso.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The modern English form is derived from the Old French word 'hanche', which itself likely has a Germanic source (compare Old High German 'hanka', meaning 'leg' or 'haunch').
Examples
The dog sat back on its haunches, waiting for the command.
The recipe called for a haunch of venison to be roasted slowly.
The weight of the bridge is supported by the haunches of the main arch.