Hucklebone

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small bone from the leg of a sheep or goat, traditionally used as a die or counter in children's games ; the ankle bone of a hoofed animal such as a sheep
2. An ankle bone from livestock such as sheep or goats, historically used in gaming ; the tarsal bone found at the joint of a hoofed animal's leg
3. The knuckle or ankle bone of a sheep or goat used for playing games ; the corresponding skeletal element in hoofed quadrupeds

Etymology: "Hucklebone" is an alternative form of "huckle bone," a name for the knuckle or hip joint, and for the small bones or knucklebones used in an old game of chance played with them. The first element, "huckle," is a variant of "hough" or "hock," the joint at the back of an animal's leg, and the word thus describes a bone found at a joint. The compound is a plain English formation, so its history lies chiefly in its two parts rather than in any foreign source. The game is the more striking side of the story. Knucklebones were tossed, thrown, and caught by players who scored according to how the bones landed, a pastime that stretches back to antiquity. In English the bones gave their names to the game itself, which is why the word can refer both to a body part and to the play that once made use of it.

Synonyms: knucklebone, astragalus