Latin for a brooch or clasp — the bone was named because the tibia and fibula together resemble the two arms of an ancient pin
The smaller of the two bones in the lower leg, running parallel to the tibia on the outer side
From Latin 'fibula' meaning a clasp, brooch, or pin used to fasten garments. The bone was named because, together with the tibia, it resembles the two prongs of a brooch or clasp holding fabric together. Some etymologists connect Latin 'fibula' to 'figere' (to fix, to fasten), from PIE *dheyg- meaning to fix or set. The anatomical application was made by early modern anatomists who saw the tibia and fibula as the two arms of a clasp, with the knee as the hinge. Key roots: figere (Latin: "to fix, to fasten, to pierce").
Archaeological fibulae (brooches) are among the most useful dating tools for ancient sites. Their styles changed rapidly across cultures and centuries, so finding a specific type of fibula brooch can date a burial or settlement layer with surprising precision. The bone and the brooch share more than a name — both help