Standard Lemma guide

wishbone

noun · verb · 7 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈwɪʃˌboʊn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: W IH1 SH B OW2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A forked bone between the neck and breast of a bird consisting chiefly of the two clavicles fused at their median or lower end, regarded as a lucky charm in some countries.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A spar in two parts, between which a sail is hoisted, the wishbone extending its clew.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any sailing vessel rigged with a wishbone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A particular kind of offensive formation. See wishbone formation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: American-football, ball-games, football, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bone

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A suspension component similar in shape to a chicken wishbone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: automotive, transport, vehicles

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To form into a wishbone-like shape; to fork.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

the furcula of a domestic fowl

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: wishing bone

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: furcula

History

Etymology

From wish + bone.

Across languages

Translations

51 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: յատեզ (yatez) — bird's bone
  • Belarusian: грудная костка (hrudnaja kóstka) — bird's bone
  • Belarusian: вілка (vilka) — bird's bone
  • Bulgarian: ядец (jadec) — bird's bone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 叉骨 (chāgǔ) — bird's bone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 如願骨 /如愿骨 (rúyuàngǔ) — bird's bone
  • Chuvash: йӗтес (jĕt̬es) — bird's bone
  • Danish: ønskeben — bird's bone
  • Dutch: vorkbeen — bird's bone
  • Esperanto: forketo — bird's bone
  • Finnish: toivomusluu — bird's bone
  • Finnish: hankaluu — bird's bone
  • French: fourchette — bird's bone
  • French: lunette — bird's bone
  • German: Gabelbein — bird's bone
  • Greek: γιάντες (giántes) — bird's bone
  • Hungarian: villacsont — bird's bone
  • Icelandic: óskabein — bird's bone
  • Icelandic: gleraugnabein — bird's bone
  • Italian: forcella — bird's bone
  • Italian: forchetta — bird's bone
  • Japanese: 叉骨 (sakotsu) — bird's bone
  • Komi-Zyrian: додь (doď) — bird's bone
  • Macedonian: јадец (jadec) — bird's bone
  • Eastern Mari: келделу (keldelu) — bird's bone
  • Eastern Mari: ятас (jatas) — bird's bone
  • Western Mari: йӓтӓс (jätäs) — bird's bone
  • Western Mari: вӹцӓш (vÿcäš) — bird's bone
  • Polish: widełki — bird's bone
  • Portuguese: fúrcula — bird's bone
  • Portuguese: ossinho da sorte — bird's bone
  • Romanian: iadeș — bird's bone
  • Russian: ду́жка (dúžka) — bird's bone
  • Russian: ви́лочка (víločka) — bird's bone
  • Scots: fortuin bane — bird's bone
  • Scots: thochtbane — bird's bone
  • Serbo-Croatian: јадац — bird's bone
  • Serbo-Croatian: ломилица — bird's bone
  • Serbo-Croatian: jadac — bird's bone
  • Serbo-Croatian: lomilica — bird's bone
  • Spanish: espoleta — bird's bone
  • Swedish: gaffelben — bird's bone
  • Swedish: önskeben — bird's bone
  • Tatar: ядәч (yädäç) — bird's bone
  • Ottoman Turkish: اوچرجاق (uçurcak) — bird's bone
  • Udmurt: эчешонлы (ećešonly) — bird's bone
  • Udmurt: ӟатаслы (dźatasly) — bird's bone
  • Ukrainian: ви́лочка (výločka) — bird's bone
  • Welsh: asgwrn tynnu — bird's bone
  • Finnish: haarukkavipu — spar
  • French: wishbone — spar
Real reading context

wishbone in complete knowledge articles

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