wishbone

American  

[wish-bohn] / ˈwɪʃˌboʊn /

noun

• wishbones
  plural

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.

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wishbone British  

/ ˈwɪʃˌbəʊn /

noun

1. the V-shaped bone above the breastbone in most birds consisting of the fused clavicles; furcula

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wishbone Scientific  

/ wĭsh′bōn′ /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wishbones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of wishbone

1850–55, 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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wishbone wishbones

San Fernando is an eight-time champion who used to be a powerhouse in the 1970s with its wishbone offense, led by Heisman Trophy winner Charles White.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025

I would bet an entire wishbone they’re slinging pans of macaroni and cheese that will bring the house down.

From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2025

In Canada, McLaren introduced a small tweak to the suspension geometry, around where the upper wishbone meets the front wheel, in an attempt increase feel.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2025

The scheme UW ran the last two years is regarded as having a lot of NFL elements to it — this isn’t trying to bring the wishbone to the NFL.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 10, 2024

“Who wants to pull the wishbone with me?”

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

"I wouldn't want to be a designer in Aston Martin. That's a very impressive set of wishbones on that car. Really, really intrinsic or interesting design."

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026

Next to the mannequin is a small black vanity desk and mirror with makeup and porcelain wishbones filling the table’s surface.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2025

The East Village relic, founded in 1854, is embellished with historic memorabilia, sawdust-strewn floors and wishbones left behind by fallen WWI soldiers.

From Fox News ● Mar. 17, 2022

Heizer, 70, is presenting a new exhibition at Gagosian that features three massive boulders suspended in steel frames and suite of “altars”: room-filling, inclined steel sculptures in the shapes of wishbones, barbells, boomerangs.

From The Guardian ● May 18, 2015

He searched for the familiar, for Miguel’s long arms, for Petey’s angry bee face, for Sean the giant, for a chorus line of wishbones, but if the Rudes were here, he couldn’t see them.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby