knucklebone
knucklebone Lexical Profile
knucklebone Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A bone forming a knuckle in the human hand, or the tarsal bone (astragalus) or limb joint bone of a cloven-hoofed animal such as a sheep or calf.
"The butcher added a meaty knucklebone to the pot to give the broth a rich, savory depth."
A small, six-sided bone from a sheep's ankle, or a metal or plastic imitation of it, used as a game piece or die; (in plural, treated as singular) an ancient game of skill played by tossing and catching these pieces, similar to jacks.
"Archaeologists uncovered a set of polished sheep knucklebones that Roman soldiers once used for games of chance."
• Rhymes for knucklebone
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in late Middle English as a compound of 'knuckle' and 'bone'. In antiquity, the astragalus bones of sheep or goats were widely used as precursors to modern dice and for children's tossing games.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.