An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Eisbein

by Friedrich Kluge

Eisbein, n., a North Ger. word, from the equiv. LG. îsbên, MidLG. îsbên, ‘hip-bone’; comp. Du. ijsbeen, ischbeen, ‘the socket of the hip-bone,’ AS. îsbân, m. The first part of the compound seems to contain a subst. îsa-, ‘gait, walking,’ which Sans. ẽša, m., ‘hastening on,’ resembles.