Etymology Dictionary

ANKLE,  the joint between let and foot.  (E.)   M.E. ancle, Chaucer, C. T. 1661.   Also anclowe, Ellis's Specimens, i. 279.—A.S. ancleow, ankle, Ælfric's Gloss. ed. Somner, p. 71, col. 2. + O. Fries. onklef, ankel, the ankle. + Dan. and Swed. ankel. + Icel. ökkla (for önkla), ökli. + Du. enklaauw, enkel. + O.H.G. anchala, anchla, enchila, the ankle; mod. G. enkel.   [The Du. klaauw means 'claw,' and the A.S. cleow seems to point to the same word, but these endings are probably mere adaptations in the respective languages, to give the words a more obvious etymology.]   β. The word is clearly a diminutive, formed with suffix -el from a stem ank-.   Indeed, the O.H.G. has the shorter form encha, meaning leg, ankle.   The root is the same as that of Gk. ἀγκύλη, the bent arm, and ἀγκών, a bend, viz. ✔ANK, a nasalised form of ✔AK, to bend, curve; cf. Skt. aṅch, to bend.   See Angle, which is from the same root.   The ankle is at the 'bend' of the foot.   Der. ankle-joint, ankl-et (ornament for the ancle).