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

But he would later recall the occipital bone when he learned that B-1’s skull was never recovered.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2022

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 • Nov. 22, 2019

“You have it locked up in the back of you,” one girl suggested, her hand creeping toward her occipital bone.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 17, 2017

Born in 1886, Hahn suffered severe sunstroke in 1904, and had to have the occipital bone at the back of his skull removed.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2016

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

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick