Ankle breakers are small but deep holes drilled into drawbridges, stone bridges, and other defensive fortifications, in order to allow a slow moving party to cross easily, while causing a running person to twist their ankle and fall, which could result in injury. Its purpose was to slow down or harm those attempting the enter the fortress.[1] [2] [3]
In sports, ankle breakers are a combination of legal moves within the confines of a sports rules that send a player on the ground, hence the name 'ankle breaker'. The ankle breaker occurs most notably in football or basketball, with a crossover or other ball handling move, or in hockey.