furcula

American  

[fur-kyuh-luh] / ˈfɜr kyə lə /

noun

PLURAL

furculae

1. the forked clavicular bone of a bird; wishbone.

2. the ventral, forked appendage on the abdomen of a springtail that the insect uses in springing itself into the air.

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furcula British  

/ ˈfɜːkjʊlə, ˈfɜːkjʊləm /

noun

1. any forklike part or organ, esp the fused clavicles (wishbone) of birds

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Other Word Forms

• furcular adjective

Etymology

Origin of furcula

1855–60; < Latin: a forked prop. See fork, -ule

Example Sentences

These adorable little creatures are so named because they often have a forked butt flipper called a furcula that launches them skyward in emergencies.

From Scientific American

They use an appendage called the furcula to launch themselves into the air when threatened.

From Washington Post

They also had wishbones, or furculae, another chapter of the story.

From New York Times

He was the paleontologist who discovered the furcula of a Tyrannosaurus rex.

From Newsweek

The clavicles, when united, as usual, form the furcula; mostly the distal median portion is drawn out into a hypocleidium of various shape.

From Project Gutenberg