# Achilles tendon

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈkɪliːz tɛndən/

## Definitions
1. The strong tendon formed of the united tendons of the large muscles in the calf of the leg, and inserted into the bone of the heel.

## Etymology
Calque of New Latin tendo Achillis, in reference to the mythological account of Achilles being held by the heel when dipped in the River Styx. Its coinage has been attributed to Dutch anatomist Philip Verheyden in 1693, but the term is first attested in 1684.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/achilles-tendon