Standard Lemma guide

furcula

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A forked process or structure, generally two-pronged.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The forked bone formed by the fusion of the clavicles in birds, the wishbone or merrythought.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, ornithology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The (two-pronged) forked, somewhat tail-like organ held bent forward and secured by a catch beneath most species of Collembola (springtails), with which they jump by releasing the catch abruptly when alarmed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, entomology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a forked bone formed by the fusion of the clavicles of most birds

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bone, os

Narrower terms: wishbone, wishing bone

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin furcula.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: (鳥的)鎖骨 — forked bone in birds — see also wishbone
  • Chinese Mandarin: (鸟的)锁骨 (niǎo de suǒgǔ) — forked bone in birds — see also wishbone
  • Finnish: hankaluu — forked bone in birds — see also wishbone
  • French: lunette — forked bone in birds — see also wishbone
  • Spanish: fúrcula — forked bone in birds — see also wishbone