FURCULA Definition & Meaning

furcula

[fur-kyuh-luh]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

furculae

the forked clavicular bone of a bird; wishbone.
the ventral, forked appendage on the abdomen of a springtail that the insect uses in springing itself into the air.

furcula

/ ˈfɜːkjʊlə, ˈfɜːkjʊləm /

noun

any forklike part or organ, esp the fused clavicles (wishbone) of birds

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

furcular adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of furcula¹

1855–60; < Latin: a forked prop. See fork, -ule

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of furcula¹

C19: from Latin: a forked support for a wall, diminutive of furca fork

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Example Sentences

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These adorable little creatures are so named because they often have a forked butt flipper called a furcula that launches them skyward in emergencies.

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They use an appendage called the furcula to launch themselves into the air when threatened.

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They also had wishbones, or furculae, another chapter of the story.

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He was the paleontologist who discovered the furcula of a Tyrannosaurus rex.

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The keel is pushed back to the distal third of the sternum, whilst the original anterior margin of the keel is correspondingly elongated, and the furcula fused with the rostral portion.

From

furcate furculum

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