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wishbone

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.02 sec.
wish·bone  (wshbn)
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.]

wishbone [ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) the V-shaped bone above the breastbone in most birds consisting of the fused clavicles; furcula
[from the custom of two people breaking apart the bone after eating: the person with the longer part makes a wish]

wishbone  (wshbn)
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.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.wishbonewishbone - 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
Translations
wishbone [ˈwɪʃbəʊn] Nespoleta f
wishbone [ˈwɪʃbəʊn] nbréchet m
wishful thinking [ˈwɪʃfʊl] n
it's wishful thinking → c'est prendre ses désirs pour des réalités
wish 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 ...
wishbone
nGabelbein nt
wishbone [ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn] n (of turkey, chicken) → forcella
wishbone [ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn] n (of turkey, chicken) → forcella


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
"I wonder if the wishbone she gave me would have done any good," cried Cecily suddenly.
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.
 
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