Dictionary

earbone en · NOUN

Etymology

From ear + bone.

Meanings

1. Any bone in the ear.
   • This earbone criterion may seem esoteric — until we learn that the evolution of that bone structure is related to the development of a single lower jaw, which in turn, is associated with the fact that mammals, unlike, say, lizards, have differentiated teeth that allow for different kinds of chewing. 2009 May 15, Edward Rothstein, “Come Meet Your Folks: Warm Blood Is Required”, in New York Times:

Forms

Translations (8)

de Gehörknöchelchen (any bone in the year) · cy esgyrnyn y glust (any bone in the year) · nl gehoorbeentje (any bone in the year) · pt ossículo (any bone in the year) · fr osselet de l'ouïe (any bone in the year) · pl kosteczka słuchowa (any bone in the year) · es huesecillo del oído (any bone in the year) · cs sluchová kůstka (any bone in the year)