An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The part of the → leg between the → knee and the → ankle in humans.

Etymology (EN): O.E. sceanca “leg, shank, shinbone;” cf. Ger. schenkel “shank, leg,” Dan., Swed. skank “leg;” maybe somehow related to Pers. leng, → leg.

Etymology (PE): Sâq “the leg from the ankle to the knee; the stem of a tree,” maybe a variant of šâx “a branch, bough; a horn,” or loan from Ar.