haunch

Etymology

Traces back through Middle English haunche and hanche to Old French hanche, hance and anche (compare French hanche, Italian anca), from a Germanic source, probably Frankish *ankijā, from Proto-Germanic *ankijǭ ("joint; ankle"), from Proto-Indo-European *ang- ("joint; lith"). It is cognate with Old High German ancha, encha and einka ("the leg; joint, bend") (compare Old High German anchila, enchila ("ankle"), German Hanke ("haunch") and West Frisian hancke ("haunch")). Related further to ankle.