Brewer's: Aitch-bone

of beef. Corruption of “Naitch-bone,” i.e. the haunch-bone (Latin, nates, a haunch or buttock).

Similarly, “an apron” is a corruption of a napperon; “an adder” is a corruption of a nadder (Old Eng., næddre). In other words, we have reversed the order; thus “a newt” is an ewt , “a nag” is an ög (Danish). Latin, eq[uus], a horse.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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