Definition

A Y-shaped bone found in birds, traditionally associated with making wishes when pulled apart by two people.

Example

During the holiday dinner, we all took turns pulling the merrythought to see who would get their wish granted.

Conversation

Did you know that the merrythought is considered a sign of good luck in some cultures?

Really? I had no idea it had such a meaning!

Yeah, people often make wishes when they break it during dinner.

That sounds like a fun tradition; we should try it next time!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Merrythought → The word is formed from "merry" (from Old English *myrige*, meaning pleasant or joyful) and "thought" (from Old English *þoht*, meaning the act of thinking or consideration). The term "merrythought" refers to a joyful or pleasant thought, often associated with happiness or cheerfulness.

Memory Tip

Think of 'merry' as being joyful and 'thought' as something you consider. This helps you remember that 'merrythought' means a joyful or pleasant thought.

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