wishbone
(redirected from wishbones)Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
Related to wishbones: wishing bone
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:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  wishbone - the furcula of a domestic fowl furcula - a forked bone formed by the fusion of the clavicles of most birds |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
bôme double
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] n → bréchet mwishful thinking [ˈwɪʃfit's wishful thinking → c'est prendre ses désirs pour des réalitéswish list n → liste 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
n → Gabelbein nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995