tro·chan·ter 
(trō-kăntər)
(trō-kăntər)n.
1. Any of several bony processes on the upper part of the femur of many vertebrates.
2. The second proximal segment of the leg of an insect.
[New Latin, from Greek trokhantēr, ball of the hip joint, from trekhein, to run.]
tro·chanter·al, tro′chan·teric (trō′kən-tĕrĭk, -kăn-) adj.