'anklet' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'ankle' plus the French diminutive suffix '-et', where '-et' meant 'little' or 'small'.

'anklet' developed in Early Modern English by adding the diminutive suffix '-et' to 'ankle' (itself from older Germanic/Old Norse/Old English roots), eventually becoming the modern English word 'anklet'.

Initially it denoted a small thing for the ankle (a 'little ankle' or small band for the ankle); over time it came to mean specifically a decorative band worn around the ankle and, more recently, an electronic monitoring device for the ankle.