KNUCKLEBONE


Meaning of KNUCKLEBONE in English

ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun

Etymology: Middle English knokylle bone, from knokylle, knokel knuckle + bone, bon bone

1.

a. : one of the bones forming a knuckle of a human finger

b. : a long bone with a knobbed end (as a femur or humerus) ; also : the knob of such a bone — now used only of animals

2.

a. : the tetrahedral metacarpal or metatarsal bone of a sheep ; especially : such a bone marked on its surfaces and used in ancient times in gaming and divination usually through being tossed like one of a pair of dice

b. knucklebones plural but singular in construction : a game played with such marked bones or with small metal objects resembling such bones ; especially : jacks

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.