fabella

fa·bel·la
F4A1B3E1L1L1A1
/fəˈbɛlə/

noun

One of the small sesamoid bones situated behind the condyles of the femur, in some mammals.

OriginNew Latin fābella ← Latin faba →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

fabella1

nounfabella (plural fabellae)

plural fabellae

  1. anatomyOne of the small sesamoid bones situated behind the condyles of the femur, in some mammals.

Fabella2

proper nounFabella (plural Fabellas)

plural Fabellas

  1. A surname.

Origin

  1. Latinfaba“bean”
  2. New Latinfābella
  3. Englishfabella

Borrowed from New Latin fābella, diminutive of Latin faba (“bean”).

More words from New Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

fabella. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fabella

MLA

“fabella.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fabella. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fabella,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fabella.

Source: fabella on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.