Merrythought

This resemblance was carefully pointed out by Professor Huxley in his "Hunterian Course" for 1867, when attention was called to the existence in Dimorphodon macronyx of even that small process which in birds gives attachment to the upper end of the merrythought. ❋ St. George Mivart (N/A)

The prospect of this indulgence, the Candidate, the pictures, all combined to elevate the spirits of the children in no ordinary degree; so much so indeed that Petrea had the boldness, whilst they were regaling on roast chicken, to propose to the Candidate that the picture of the girl and the rose-bush should be put up for a prize on the breaking of a merrythought between them; promising, that if she had the good fortune to win it, she would give as a recompense a picture of her own composition, which should represent some scene in a temple. ❋ Fredrika Bremer (1833)

The wings, breast, and merrythought are esteemed the prime parts of a fowl and are usually served to the ladies of the company to whom legs except as a matter of paramount necessity should not be given. ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

When Mrs Bosenna said that about a merrythought I almost split myself. ❋ Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (1903)

After legs are taken off, enter knife into the top of breast, and cut under merrythought or wishbone so as to loosen it, lifting it with the fork. ❋ Marion Harris Neil (N/A)

"Me washee," came a cheerful shout; "me washee from the neck all the way down to the merrythought, and now washee down from the merrythought to --" ❋ 1870-1916 Saki (1893)

The merrythought will come off in the same way as that of a fowl. ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

The merrythought and neck-bones may now easily be cut away, the back-and side-bones taken out without being divided, and the breastbone separated carefully from the flesh (which, as the work progresses, must be turned back from the bones upon the fowl, until it is completely inside out). ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

Till a little practice has been gained, it will perhaps be bettor to bone these joints before proceeding further; but after they are once detached from it, the whole of the body may easily be separated from the flesh and taken out entire: only the neck-bones and merrythought will then remain to be removed. ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

The legs and wings on either side having been taken off, the carver should draw his knife through the flesh in the direction of the line 4 to 5: by this means the knife can be slipped underneath the merrythought, which, being lifted up and pressed backward, will immediately come off. ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

The merrythought, which in a goose is not so large as might be expected, is disengaged in the same way as that of a fowl — by passing the knife under it, and pressing it backwards towards the neck. ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

The collar — or neck-bones are the next to consider: these lie on each side of the merrythought, close under the upper part of the wings; and, in order to free these from the fowl, they must also be raised by the knife at their broad end, and turned from the body towards the breastbone, until the shorter piece of the bone, as shown in the cut, breaks off. ❋ Isabella Mary (1861)

I have known the shooting of a star spoil a night's rest, and have seen a man in love grow pale and lose his appetite upon the plucking of a merrythought. ❋ Charles Mackay (1851)

"A merrythought, if you please, and no bread-sauce," said the young lady, in her calm, imperious manner. ❋ G.J. Whyte-Melville (1849)