noun
breastbone
BREST-bohn/ˈbrestbəʊn/
The flat bone at the center of the chest to which the ribs attach.
The breastbone forms the flat center of the rib cage.
Etymology
Breast here means the chest broadly, making breastbone literally the chest bone. The compound names the sternum by its position at the front of the chest.
In context
it had been disemboweled by a single slash that had opened its belly from breastbone to tail
More examples
- She feels a tender spot just below her breastbone.
- The seat belt lies diagonally across his breastbone.
- The doctor checks her breastbone for signs of injury.
Forms
breastbone · breastbones
sternal adjective — Relating to the breastbone or sternum.
Similar words
- sternum
- The anatomical term for the same central chest bone.