wishbone


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wish·bone

 (wĭsh′bōn′)
n.
1. The forked bone anterior to the breastbone of most birds, formed by the fusion of the clavicles.
2. Football An offensive formation in which the halfbacks are positioned behind and to the left and right of the fullback.

[From the superstition that when two people pull the bone apart a wish will be fulfilled for the person who retains the longer piece.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wishbone

(ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn)
n
(Zoology) the V-shaped bone above the breastbone in most birds consisting of the fused clavicles; furcula
[C17: from the custom of two people breaking apart the bone after eating: the person with the longer part makes a wish]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wish•bone

(ˈwɪʃˌboʊn)

n.
1. a forked bone, formed by the fusion of the two clavicles, in front of the breastbone in most birds; furcula.
2. a football offensive formation in which the fullback is directly behind the quarterback and two halfbacks are farther behind to either side.
[1850–55, Amer.; 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]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

wish·bone

(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.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.wishbone - the furcula of a domestic fowlwishbone - the furcula of a domestic fowl  
furcula - a forked bone formed by the fusion of the clavicles of most birds
bird, fowl - the flesh of a bird or fowl (wild or domestic) used as food
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
bôme double

wishbone

[ˈwɪʃbəʊn] Nespoleta f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

wishbone

[ˈwɪʃbəʊn] nbréchet mwishful thinking [ˈwɪʃfʊl] n
it's wishful thinking → c'est prendre ses désirs pour des réalitéswish list nliste f de souhaits
... one special toy that tops the wish list of every child → ... un jouet en particulier, arrivant en tête de la liste de souhaits de chaque enfant ..., ... un jouet particulier, figurant en premier sur la commande au Père Noël de chaque enfant ...
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

wishbone

nGabelbein nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

wishbone

[ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn] n (of turkey, chicken) → forcella
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
Anne, in her flannel blouse and serge skirt, with her hair rather blown from her windy walk home, was sitting squarely in the middle of the floor, teasing the Sarah-cat with a wishbone. Joseph and Rusty were both curled up in her lap.
Anne scrambled to her feet somehow, emptying two indignant cats out of her lap as she did so, and mechanically shifting her wishbone from her right hand to her left.
They couldn't find no letters nor nothing on him; nothing but an old penknife in his pocket and the wishbone of a chicken wrapped up in a piece of paper, and some poetry.'
But she relented again at the last and gave Cecily a wishbone.
In 2018 Felix was "special guest" on the Wishbone Ash XLIX UK Tour and played to around 10,000 music fans at 28 venues across the country with his band.
WishBone Medical has purchased CSpine Inc., an Indiana-based company that designs, develops, and manufactures spine and orthopedic implants and instruments.
(NYSE American: REI) has closed its acquisition of Texas and New Mexico Northwest Shelf assets from Wishbone Energy Partners, LLC, Wishbone Texas Operating Company LLC and WB WaterWorks, LLC, the company said.
M2 EQUITYBITES-April 17, 2019-Ring Energy Acquires Northwest Shelf Assets from Wishbone Energy for USD 264m
Summary: TEHRAN (FNA)- Comedy feature "Wishbone", directed by Iranian filmmaker Ali Atshani, is expected to go on screen at NukhuFest film festival in New York.
029 2063 6464 MUSIC Martin Turner (Ex-Wishbone Ash) With millions of album sales and concert attendances worldwide, Wishbone Ash's heritage as one of the most enduring and best loved British rock acts is assured.
DVD PS14.99 MONSTER FAMILY PG EMMA Wishbone is struggling to keep her bookshop afloat.