knucklebone

American  

[nuhk-uhl-bohn] / ˈnʌk əlˌboʊn /

noun

1. (in humans) any of the bones forming a knuckle of a finger.

2. (in quadrupeds) a bone homologous with a wrist, ankle, or finger bone of humans, or its knobbed end.

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knucklebone British  

/ ˈnʌkəlˌbəʊn /

noun

1. any bone forming part of a knuckle or knuckle joint

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Etymology

Origin of knucklebone

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; knuckle, bone

Example Sentences

Also salvaged was an astragalus, which was a knucklebone of a sheep or a goat used like a die in a game called “knucklebone.”

From Literature

As a onetime priest, McLaughlin would have undoubtedly understood the desire to possess a relic from a venerated figure, like a saint’s knucklebone or a sliver of the true cross.

From Washington Post

There’s no better example of this than the Klingons, who changed dramatically over the course of Star Trek, from the flat foreheads of The Original Series to the “knucklebone” ridges of the films and The Next Generation era to… whatever JJ Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness Klingons were.

From The Verge

Temujin was born clutching a blood clot the size of a knucklebone.

From Time Magazine Archive

But they must wait in patience yet a little longer, if even a knucklebone is to be a share.

From Project Gutenberg