heel bone

noun

1. calcaneus.

heel bone

noun

1. the nontechnical name for calcaneus

Word History and Origins

Origin of heel bone¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

The calcaneus is more commonly known as the heel bone.

From Los Angeles Times

The British archaeologists said the nail had been driven into the outside of the right heel bone, where there was also an impression from a hammer or other driving device having missed its mark — a sign of the almost casual manner in which suffering could be inflicted.

From Washington Post

They said Haas erred in key ways: There was only one heel bone from the right foot, not two fused together by the nail and time; the leg did not appear to have been broken before death; and the approximately 4.5-inch nail was shorter than Haas believed and not able to have transited two heel bones and the wooden plaque.

From Washington Post

A 13th was discovered in the heel bone in the laboratory.

From Washington Post

For a hominin of this time period, the heel bone was too apelike, and the midfoot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back showed strange traits in both skeletons.

From Scientific American