hæft

Höft is a term that can refer to several related but distinct concepts in German-language usage. In everyday modern German, the common word for the region of the body where the torso connects to the leg is Hüfte. Höft appears primarily in historical, regional, or dialectal contexts as an older or alternative spelling for the same anatomical area, and in some medical or legal texts it may be found in reference to the hip joint and nearby structures.

Anatomy and usage

The hip region encompasses the pelvis and the proximal part of the femur, including the hip joint, which is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the acetabulum of the pelvis and the femoral head. The area is stabilized by ligaments and supported by muscles of the hip, abdomen, and thigh. In clinical discussions, conditions affecting the hip often include fractures, dislocations, osteoarthritis, bursitis, and various soft-tissue injuries. While Hüfte is the standard modern term, Höft may appear in older medical literature or regional speech.

Onomastics and toponymy

Höft also exists as a surname in German-speaking regions. As a toponymic element, it can appear in historical or cadastral records, indicating a geographic feature or origin connected to a location named with Höft or variants thereof. The name may have evolved through regional dialects and spelling changes over time.

See also

Hüfte, hip joint, anatomy of the pelvis. For linguistic and genealogical aspects, see German surnames and toponymy.