breastbone

[ brest-bohn ]

noun

1. the sternum.

breastbone

/ ˈbrɛstˌbəʊn /

noun

1. the nontechnical name for sternum

breastbone

/ brĕst′bōn′ /

1. See sternum

Word History and Origins

Origin of breastbone¹

before 1000; Middle English brust-bon, Old English brēostbān. See breast, bone ( def )

Example Sentences

But a groundbreaking operation, which required his breastbone to be split open, saved his career and enabled him to represent England again and win the Premiership with Saracens in 2023.

From BBC

Spatchcocking involves using kitchen shears to cut out the backbone of the turkey and flipping it breast side up, pushing on that breastbone hard to crack it, allowing the turkey to lie flat.

From Seattle Times

Aim for the center of the chest over the breastbone, or sternum.

From New York Times

KYIV, Ukraine — The surgeons had made the long incision down the middle of the child’s chest, cut the breastbone to spread the rib cage and reach the heart in the operating room in Kyiv.

From New York Times

Then, I flip the bird and press down on its breastbone, which allows it to lay flat.

From Washington Post