Nearby Words

boning

[bohn] Origin

bone

[bohn] noun, verb, boned, bon·ing, adverb
noun
1.
Anatomy, Zoology.
a.
one of the structures composing the skeleton of a vertebrate.
b.
the hard connective tissue forming the substance of the skeleton of most vertebrates, composed of a collagen-rich organic matrix impregnated with calcium, phosphate, and other minerals.
2.
such a structure from an edible animal, usually with meat adhering to it, as an article of food: Pea soup should be made with a ham bone.
3.
any of various similarly hard or structural animal substances, as ivory or whalebone.
4.
something made of or resembling such a substance.
5.
a small concession, intended to pacify or quiet; a conciliatory bribe or gift: The administration threw the student protesters a couple of bones, but refused to make any basic changes in the curriculum or requirements.
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6.
bones,
a.
the skeleton.
b.
a body: Let his bones rest in peace.
c.
Games Slang. dice.
d.
(initial capital letter) Mr. Bones.
e.
a simple rhythm instrument consisting of two sometimes curved bars or short strips of bone, ivory, wood, or the like, held between the fingers of one hand and clacked together.
7.
the color of bone; ivory or off-white.
8.
a flat strip of whalebone or other material for stiffening corsets, petticoats, etc.; stay.
9.
Games Slang. a domino.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
10.
to remove the bones from: to bone a turkey.
11.
to put whalebone or another stiffener into (clothing).
12.
Agriculture. to put bone meal into (feed, fertilizer, etc.).

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Boning is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
adverb
13.
completely; absolutely: bone tired.
14.
bone up, Informal. to study intensely; cram: We're going to have to bone up for the exam.
15.
feel in one's bones, to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.
16.
have a bone to pick with someone, to have cause to disagree or argue with someone: The teacher had a bone to pick with him because his homework paper was identical with his neighbor's.
17.
make no bones about,
a.
to deal with in a direct manner; act or speak openly: He makes no bones about his dislike of modern music.
b.
to have no fear of or objection to.
18.
to the bone,
a.
to the essentials; to the minimum: The government cut social service programs to the bone.
b.
to an extreme degree; thoroughly: chilled to the bone.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English bo(o)n, Old English bān; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon bēn, Dutch been bone, Old Norse bein bone, leg, German Bein leg (-bein bone, in compounds); < Germanic *bainan (neuter), probably orig. past participle (compare Old Irish benaid (he) hews), meaning “lopped off,” from butchering of animals; orig. in phrase *bainan astan lopped-off bone or branch (hence, “leg,” as a branch of the body); replacing *astan bone < Indo-European *Host- (> Latin os(s), Albanian asht, Avestan ast-, Hittite hast-ai), which fell together in Gmc with *astaz branch (> German Ast) < Indo-European *osdos (> Greek ózos, Armenian ost)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

bone
Especially in bone up "study," 1880s student slang, probably from "Bohn's Classical Library," a popular series in higher education published by German-born Eng. publisher Henry George Bohn (17961884) as part of a broad series of "libraries" he issued from 1846, totaling 766 volumes, continued after 1864
EXPAND
by G. Bell & Sons.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

bone (bōn)
n.

  1. The dense, semirigid, porous, calcified connective tissue forming the major portion of the skeleton of most vertebrates, consisting of a dense organic matrix and an inorganic, mineral component.

  2. Any of the more than 200 anatomically distinct structures making up the human skeleton.

  3. A piece of bone.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
bone   (bōn)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. The hard, dense, calcified tissue that forms the skeleton of most vertebrates, consisting of a matrix made up of collagen fibers and mineral salts. There are two main types of bone structure: compact, which is solid and hard, and cancellous, which is spongy in appearance. Bone serves as a framework for the attachment of muscles and protects vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and lungs. See more at osteoblast, osteocyte.

  2. Any of the structures made of bone that constitute a skeleton, such as the femur. The human skeleton consists of 206 bones.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary

bone definition


  1. n.
    a trombone. (Musicians. See also bones.) : She plays the bone like nobody's business.

  2. Go to boner. :
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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