# Is there a name for this?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this/715142>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 16, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this/715142 "2015-03-16T19:34:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this/715142/1 "2015-03-16T19:34:57Z")

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Is there a name for the condition/situation where a person’s lower leg doesn’t have a well-defined calf or ankle but just sort of tapers down into the foot?

“Fat ankles” is the obvious answer, but I have seen this on people who were by no means fat. I would prefer a more clinical term.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this/715142/2 "2015-03-16T19:37:05Z")

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Not clinical, but ‘canckles’ is a common term for this.

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**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this/715142/3 "2015-03-16T20:02:33Z")

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> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Not clinical, but ‘canckles’ is a common term for this.

What is the derivation of that term?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this/715142/4 "2015-03-16T20:09:44Z")

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> [@jebert](#):
>
> Is there a name for the condition/situation where a person’s lower leg doesn’t have a well-defined **c** alf or **ankle** but just sort of tapers down into the foot?
> 
> “Fat ankles” is the obvious answer, but I have seen this on people who were by no means fat. I would prefer a more clinical term.

Well. . . it’s possible. . . .