cuttlebone

American  

[kuht-l-bohn] / ˈkʌt lˌboʊn /

noun

1. the calcareous internal shell of cuttlefishes, used to make powder for polishing and fed to canaries and other pet birds to supply their diet with lime.

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cuttlebone British  

/ ˈkʌtəlˌbəʊn /

noun

1. the internal calcareous shell of the cuttlefish, used as a mineral supplement to the diet of cage-birds and as a polishing agent

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Etymology

Origin of cuttlebone

First recorded in 1805–15; cuttle(fish) + bone

Example Sentences

This structure varies widely, from the rounded cuttlebone in cuttlefish to the thin, blade-like gladius in many squid, as well as the spiral shell of the ram's horn squid.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

A nautilus’ phragmocone is its coiled shell; a cuttlefish’s is its cuttlebone.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2022

He thought about holding workshops in his studio to teach people how to make their own engagement rings out of cuttlebone.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2018

Fawkes the phoenix was gnawing a bit of cuttlebone.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

He had his own cuttlebone that he rubbed the sides of his beak against like a knife grinder honing his blade.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly