the lucky bone
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The small bone of a sheep's head; prized by beggars and tramps, as it is supposed to bring luck for the whole day on which it is received.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the lucky bone” mean?
The small bone of a sheep's head; prized by beggars and tramps, as it is supposed to bring luck for the whole day on which it is received.
Is “the lucky bone” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.