Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The branch of anatomy that deals with the structure and function of bones.
  • noun The bone structure or system of an animal.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun That branch of anatomy which treats of bone or of bones.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The science which treats of the bones of the vertebrate skeleton.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun anatomy the scientific study of the morphology and pathology of bones
  • noun anatomy the bone structure of a particular individual, or species

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the branch of anatomy that studies the bones of the vertebrate skeleton

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

osteo- + -logy

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Examples

  • And in Africa what striking differences of complexion exist between the Negro of the plains and of the mountains, even whilst the osteology is the same, therefore I pass over the hair and skin of the Australian as parts too much subjected to the influence of climate to afford means of legitimate deduction.

    The Bushman — Life in a New Country Edward Wilson Landor 1844

  • In the Warren Museum of Anatomy Dr. Dwight arranged a section of osteology which is considered the best in existence, and he enjoyed an international reputation as an anatomist.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 16 [Supplement] 1840-1916 1913

  • I see, however, that someone like me, who has only a basic anthropological knowledge of osteology, should probably start with a more, shall we say, user-friendly text.

    The Not-So-Theology of the Body 2009

  • I see, however, that someone like me, who has only a basic anthropological knowledge of osteology, should probably start with a more, shall we say, user-friendly text.

    Archive 2009-01-01 2009

  • Temperance Brennan leads us down a delicate spiderweb of metaphors and adjectives, all of which make you forget that you're reading about osteology and decomposition.

    Archive 2007-07-01 Jes Battis 2007

  • Temperance Brennan leads us down a delicate spiderweb of metaphors and adjectives, all of which make you forget that you're reading about osteology and decomposition.

    Deja Dead Jes Battis 2007

  • The work can be ardous and is usually of painstaking character, requiring infinite patience, skill, and a knowledge of animal osteology.

    Archive 2009-02-01 ReBecca Foster 2009

  • The work can be ardous and is usually of painstaking character, requiring infinite patience, skill, and a knowledge of animal osteology.

    The Preparator ReBecca Foster 2009

  • She stopped at a cubicle in the osteology section and deposited the jar.

    Unforgivable Laura Griffin 2008

  • The Swedish blog Testimony of the Spade which touches on subjects concerning archaeology, osteology and cultural heritage conjures up this latest volume.

    Four Stone Hearth - Volume 32 2008

Comments

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  • "'Do you think it really useful to discuss these remote hypotheses? If you were to ask me about the tertian ague or the osteology of the cassowary I could give you a reasonable answer...'" --Patrick O'Brian, The Surgeon's Mate, 358

    February 9, 2008

  • 1. No eating.

    2. Be careful with the skeletons.

    3. Always work over a padded surface.

    4. Do not fix anything yourself.

    5. Be respectful of the skeletons.

    6. Do not write on bones.

    7. Wash hands after handling bone, particularly SBI material.

    8. Do not lick the bone.

    9. Be careful with measuring tools.

    10. Return your skeleton to the cabinet every day.

    Osteology lab rules. Seen here (click "Lab rules").

    November 13, 2008

  • I find #8 rather disturbing.

    November 13, 2008

  • Me too! I'm also a little disturbed by the name of the Instructor. At least she's not a doctor...is she?

    November 13, 2008

  • If they're going to ban eating then they ought to expect a certain amount of bone-licking, in my opinion.

    n.b. #10, surely closet instead of cabinet.

    November 13, 2008

  • Closet Bonelickers Anonymous is in the directory, yarb. But you have to take the first step.

    November 13, 2008