Where does “talus” come from?

Talus comes from Latin talus, derived from Proto-Indo-European téh₂g-s-los, which traces back to the root teh₂g- meaning to touch or handle.

talus (English): The bone of the ankle; A sloping heap of...

Definitions

  1. The bone of the ankle; A sloping heap of...

Ancestry of “talus”, step by step

talus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French talus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchtalusslope, embankment
2Gaulishtalutum
3Proto-Celtic*talufront
4Proto-Indo-Europeantelh₂-to bear, to undergo, to endure; ground, bottom

via Latin tālus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latintālusthe ankle or anklebone (of animals), talus; knucklebone
2Proto-Italictākslos
3Proto-Indo-Europeantéh₂g-s-los
4Proto-Indo-Europeanteh₂g-touch; to touch, to take hold of
Every word from Proto-Indo-European telh₂-Every word from Proto-Celtic *taluEvery word from Gaulish talutum
talus — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer