Back to all words

Fibula

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the thinner of the two bones in the lower leg, alongside the tibia
1
Stage 1 of 2
fibula
Latin · ancient
"a clasp, a brooch"
a clasp, a brooch, describing the bone's resemblance to a pin fastening two things together
2
Stage 2 of 2
fibula
English · 1670s
"the smaller of the two shin bones"
adopted directly as the anatomical word for the smaller shin bone
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom