fibula

UK: /ˈfɪbjʊlə/ US: (fib′yə lə)

Inflections of 'fibula' (n):

fibulae

npl

fibulas

npl

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fib•u•la  (fib′yə lə), n., pl. -lae (-lē′), -las. 

1. Anatomy the outer and thinner of the two bones of the human leg, extending from the knee to the ankle. See diag. under skeleton. 
2. Zoology a corresponding bone, often rudimentary or ankylosed with the tibia, of the leg or hind limb of an animal.
3. Jewelry a clasp or brooch, often ornamented, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

• *fīvibula, equivalent. to fīv(ere), early form of fīgere to fasten, fix + -i- -i- + -bula suffix denoting instrument; the bone so called from its resemblance to the tongue of a clasp
• Neo-Latin; Latin fībula bolt, pin, clasp, probably
• 1665–75

fib′u•lar, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fibula / ˈfɪbjʊlə/ noun ( -lae / -ˌliː/, -las)

1. the outer and thinner of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the human leg
   Compare tibia
2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
3. a metal brooch resembling a safety pin, often highly decorated, common in Europe after 1300 bc

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin: clasp, probably from fīgere to fasten

ˈfibular adjective