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wishbone

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Wishbones
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wish⋅bone

  [wish-bohn]
Use wishbone in a Sentence
–noun
1. a forked bone, formed by the fusion of the two clavicles, in front of the breastbone in most birds; furcula.
2. Football. an offensive formation in which the fullback is positioned directly behind the quarterback and the two halfbacks are positioned farther behind and to the left and right, respectively.
Origin:
1850–55, Americanism; wish + bone; 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
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Wishbones
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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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
wishbone   (wĭsh'bōn')  Pronunciation Key 
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® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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