occipital bone

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. a curved, compound bone forming the back and part of the base of the skull.

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occipital bone British  

noun

1. the saucer-shaped bone that forms the back part of the skull and part of its base

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Etymology

Origin of occipital bone

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

When lawyers retained by Penn asked her about the occipital bone, she told them she was “confused” and “simply made an error.”

From New York Times

Gauge where to start the fade on your head by your occipital bone; you'll find it midway up your skull, a little higher than where your ears end.

From Salon

But life doesn't let you just take the losses; it grabs your occipital bone, looks you in the eye, and smushes your face into the earth.

From Golf Digest

“At the occipital bone, the posterior base of my skull,” Rachael said.

From Literature

He kisses blade to occipital bone—gentle—furrowing his brow as bone dust leaps like a celebration.

From Scientific American