wishbone

The wishbone is the Y-shaped bone, called the furcula, found in birds such as chickens and turkeys. It is formed from two joined collarbones. In a scientific or anatomical sense, it is simply a part of the bird's body, and in living birds it helps support movement during flight.

In ordinary English, though, the word usually carries a warmer and more familiar picture. It often refers to the old custom of two people holding the two ends of the bone and pulling until it breaks. The person left with the larger piece is traditionally said to receive good luck or have a wish granted. Because of this, the word is strongly connected with family meals, especially Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada.

The tradition is ancient and is often traced back to early Mediterranean cultures, then later carried through Europe before becoming part of modern holiday life. The word can also be used more broadly for things shaped like this forked bone, but its main meaning remains the bird bone itself and the hopeful tradition that surrounds it.