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Synonyms

drumstick

American  
[druhm-stik] / ˈdrʌmˌstɪk /

noun

  • drumsticks
    plural
  1. a stick for beating a drum.

  2. the meaty leg of a chicken, duck, turkey, or other fowl.


drumstick British  
/ ˈdrʌmˌstɪk /

noun

  1. a stick used for playing a drum

  2. the lower joint of the leg of a cooked fowl

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of drumstick

First recorded in 1580–90; drum 1 + stick 1

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Vocabulary lists containing drumstick

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Much like that final drumstick you probably shouldn’t have eaten, equities spent last week digesting their gains.

From Barron's Dec. 7, 2025

"Under the meat of a drumstick, you'll find two bones -- the tibia, which is long and thick, and the fibula, which is much shorter and thinner," Manafzadeh explained.

From Science Daily Nov. 20, 2024

After that, Hernandez said, he snatched a drumstick out of her hands.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 17, 2023

When rapidly twirling it, and dragging the edges of a particular pan against a drumstick, he created a haunting, skittering effect — a restless signal of warning.

From New York Times Mar. 20, 2023

Wilson's drumstick came down in a mound of cranberry sauce.

From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte

The two leaders also exchanged signed drumsticks after their performance.

From BBC Jan. 14, 2026

“Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth, appearing alongside his wife, is asked whether he prefers drumsticks, flats, or boneless wings.

From Slate Dec. 18, 2025

But customers are skipping drumsticks, breasts and thighs, reaching instead for sandwiches and tenders that have made Chick-fil-A, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Raising Cane’s some of the industry’s fastest-growing brands.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 28, 2025

If dark meat is your preference, turkey thighs and drumsticks are an option.

From Salon Nov. 28, 2024

Micah’s drumsticks are always either in his hands or in his pocket.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

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