Tarsus
/ˈtɑːr.səs/noun
The cluster of small bones forming the ankle and rear part of the foot, or a similar structure in anatomy and zoology.
Did you know?Ancient Greek tarsos could refer not only to the foot’s sole but also to the edge of the eyelid, linking two very different anatomical “frames.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ters-
“To dry; a proposed root connected with dryness”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tarsós
“The sole or flat part of the foot; also the edge of the eyelid”
4th Century BCE
Greek
Tarsós
“A term for the foot’s flat structure or sole”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
tarsus
“The tarsal bones or structure of the foot”
17th Century
English
tarsus
“The group of ankle bones in anatomical terminology”
Modern English
English
tarsus
“The ankle and rear-foot bone group, also used for comparable structures in animals”