wishbone

[ wish-bohn ]
/ ˈwɪʃˌboʊn /

noun

a forked bone, formed by the fusion of the two clavicles, in front of the breastbone in most birds; furcula.
Football. an offensive formation in which the fullback is positioned directly behind the quarterback and the two halfbacks are positioned farther behind and to the left and right, respectively.

Origin of wishbone

1850–55, Americanism; wish + bone; so called from the custom of pulling the furcula of a cooked fowl apart until it breaks, the person holding the longer (sometimes shorter) piece being granted a wish

Words nearby wishbone

wish fulfillment, wish fulfilment, wish list, wish on, wish-wash, wishbone, wishbone boom, wishful, wishful thinking, wishing well, wisht

Example sentences from the Web for wishbone

British Dictionary definitions for wishbone

wishbone
/ (ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn) /

noun

the V-shaped bone above the breastbone in most birds consisting of the fused clavicles; furcula

Word Origin for wishbone

C17: from the custom of two people breaking apart the bone after eating: the person with the longer part makes a wish

Scientific definitions for wishbone

wishbone
[ wĭsh′bōn′ ]

The forked bone in front of the breastbone in most birds, consisting of the two collarbones partly fused together. It serves as a spring, capturing some of the energy during the downward stroke of the wings for release on the upward stroke.