wishbone

noun

wish·​bone ˈwish-ˌbōn How to pronounce wishbone (audio)
1
: a forked bone in front of the breastbone in a bird consisting chiefly of the two clavicles fused at their median or lower end
2
: a variation of the T formation in which the halfbacks line up farther from the line of scrimmage than the fullback does

Illustration of wishbone

Illustration of wishbone
  • W wishbone 1

Examples of wishbone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Why, then, does Keller dedicate so much care to delicately removing the wishbone? Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 28 June 2024 Moving further up will land you at the Nilu's double wishbone, pushrod suspension. New Atlas, 10 Aug. 2024 In The Bear, Keller expertly scrapes, tugs, and extracts the chicken's wishbone in about a half a minute. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 28 June 2024 Michael Holman had in his possession Jeschke’s distinctive wishbone earrings, as well as her credit card – attempting a $630.43 charge for photography equipment – the day investigators found her body. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 17 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for wishbone 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wishbone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from the superstition that when two persons pull it apart the one getting the longer fragment will have a wish granted

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wishbone was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near wishbone

Cite this Entry

“Wishbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishbone. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

wishbone

noun
wish·​bone ˈwish-ˌbōn How to pronounce wishbone (audio)
: a bone in front of a bird's breastbone that is shaped like a V and consists chiefly of two fused clavicles

More from Merriam-Webster on wishbone

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