ossicone
noun
os·si·cone
ˈä-sə-ˌkōn 
plural ossicones
: one of usually two short conical or columnar protuberances on the head of male and female giraffes and male okapis that are composed of ossified cartilage covered by skin and hair
Note: As ossicones enlarge and ossify, they become fused to the skull.
Examples of ossicone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The lightning strike apparently hit one giraffe on the top of its head, judging by a fracture in the skull near the base of its antler-like ossicone, George Dvorsky reports for Gizmodo.
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Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Sep. 2020
Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Sep. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ossicone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Ossicone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossicone. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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