Ilium
/ˈɪl.i.əm/noun
The broad, upper part of the hip bone.
Did you know?The anatomical term was coined in Modern Latin from Latin īlium/īlī, but it’s also famously confused with Ilium, the Latin name for Troy, a reminder that classical words can carry both body and myth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to spread, flat surface”
Latin
Latin
īlia
“the flank, side of the body, groin”
Late Latin
Latin
ilium
“the hip bone (anatomical term)”
16th Century
New Latin
ilium
“the broad upper part of the hip bone”
Modern English
English
ilium
“the upper, broad part of the hip bone”