merrythought

English

Etymology

From merry +‎ thought, traditionally explained with reference to the pleasant thoughts imagined when the bone is ritually broken.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛɹɪθɔːt/

Noun

merrythought (plural merrythoughts)

1. (archaic) The wishbone or furcula.
   • 1687, John Aubrey, Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme, page 93:

     One puts y^e merrithought on his nose (slightly) like a paire of spectacles, and shakes his head till he shakes it off his nose.

   • 1688, Randle Holme, The Academy of Armory‎, Chester, Book 2, Chapter 13, p. 307:

     All Birds want the Channel-bones in the Breast, instead whereof they have a bone, which we call the Merry thought.

   • 1906, William Price Drury, Richard Pryce, A Privy Council: A Comedy in One Act, page 22:

     Mrs. Knipp. (picking up from Ming's plate the merrythought on which her eye has just fallen, and holding it up). A merrythought. Who will pull this merrythought with me ? Nay (as they all lean forward), 'tis an affair of two not four. (They draw back simultaneously, eying each other sheepishly when Mrs. KNIPP laughs at their confusion).