Word: bone Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English bon, from Old English bān (“bone, tusk; the bone of a limb”), from Proto-Germanic *bainą (“bone”), from *bainaz (“straight”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyh₂- (“to hit, strike, beat”). Cognate with Scots bane, been, bean, bein, bain (“bone”), North Frisian bian, Biin, biinj (“bone; leg”), West Frisian bien (“bone”), Dutch been (“bone; leg”), German Low German Been, Bein (“bone”), German Bein (“leg”), German Gebein (“bones”), Swedish ben (“bone; leg”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Icelandic bein (“bone; leg”), Breton benañ (“to cut, hew”), Latin perfinēs (“break through, break into pieces, shatter”), Avestan 𐬠𐬫𐬈𐬥𐬙𐬈 (byente, “they fight, hit”). Related also to Old Norse beinn (“straight, right, favourable, advantageous, convenient, friendly, fair, keen”) (whence Middle English bain, bayne, bayn, beyn (“direct, prompt”), Scots bein, bien (“in good condition, pleasant, well-to-do, cosy, well-stocked, pleasant, keen”)), Icelandic beinn (“straight, direct, hospitable”), Norwegian bein (“straight, direct, easy to deal with”). See bain, bein. Pronunciation: /bəʊn/, /boʊn/, /bəʉn/, /bɐʉn/, /bon/ 1. A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates. Labels: uncountable Example: Ne take noon hede to brynge togidere þe parties of þe boon þat is to-broken or dislocate, til viij. daies ben goon in þe wyntir, & v. in þe somer; for þanne it schal make quytture, and be sikir from swellynge; & þanne brynge togidere þe brynkis eiþer þe disiuncture after þe techynge þat schal be seid in þe chapitle of algebra. 2. Any of the components of an endoskeleton, made of this material. Labels: countable Example: No Trophee, Sword, nor Hatchment o're his bones. 3. A bone of a fish; a fishbone. Labels: countable, uncountable 4. A bonefish. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The reason I rarely fish for Mag Bay bones with a 5-weight or 6-weight is the number of fish that can turn light stuff inside out. 5. One of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, the boning, originally made of whalebone. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. One of the fragments of bone held between the fingers of the hand and rattled together to keep time to music. Labels: countable, uncountable 7. Anything made of bone, such as a bobbin for weaving bone lace. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. The framework of anything. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable 9. An off-white colour, like the typical colour of bone. Labels: countable, uncountable 10. A dollar. Labels: US, countable, in-plural, informal, uncountable 11. The wishbone formation. Labels: countable, informal, uncountable 12. An erect penis; a boner. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: Speakin' on the phone, for hours on end / On the bone from just listenin', and then: 13. A domino or die. Labels: countable, in-plural, slang, uncountable Example: Let's head to the casino and roll them bones! Example: The Accountant had brought out already a box of dominoes, and was toying architecturally with the bones. 14. A cannabis cigarette; a joint. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: In between sets I took her outside, sat against a fence near the dumpster, and smoked a bone with her. 15. A reward. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: When I'm a good dog they sometimes throw me a bone in