soupbone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareInformal, Culinary, Dated Slang
Quick answer
What does “soupbone” mean?
A bone used in making soup stock, often boiled to extract flavor, marrow, and gelatin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bone used in making soup stock, often boiled to extract flavor, marrow, and gelatin.
Informal term for a person who is very thin or gaunt. In sports slang (dated baseball), a weak or ineffective pitcher.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the culinary term identically. The slang uses ('thin person', 'weak pitcher') are primarily historical Americanisms.
Connotations
Culinary term is neutral. Slang uses are mildly derogatory or humorous.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in all contexts. Most commonly encountered in historical texts, old recipes, or as deliberate archaism.
Grammar
How to Use “soupbone” in a Sentence
[verb] + soupbone (e.g., add, simmer, discard)soupbone + [verb] (e.g., soupbone adds flavor)[adjective] + soupboneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “soupbone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, possibly in historical culinary studies or food science.
Everyday
Very rare, mostly among cooking enthusiasts or in historical recipe contexts.
Technical
Culinary arts: a specific type of bone used for stock.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “soupbone”
- Using it as a synonym for any bone. Using it in modern slang unironically. Spelling as two words ('soup bone') - while common, the single-word form is the headword.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare term. Its culinary use is largely replaced by terms like 'stock bone' or 'marrow bone', and its slang uses are obsolete.
Yes, the open form is very common in writing and is generally understood as the same thing, though dictionaries often list the closed or hyphenated form as the headword.
A soupbone is specifically chosen for making soup stock, typically one with a lot of connective tissue, marrow, or cartilage that breaks down to add flavor, nutrients, and body to the liquid.
No, it is a historical slang term from the early 20th century. Modern terms like 'noodle arm' or simply 'weak arm' would be used.
A bone used in making soup stock, often boiled to extract flavor, marrow, and gelatin.
Soupbone is usually informal, culinary, dated slang in register.
Soupbone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsuːpˌbəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsupˌboʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not common enough for established idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SOUP bowl with a BONE in it - that's exactly what a soupbone is.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE/ESSENCE (the bone is the source of the soup's essential flavor and body).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts might you historically encounter the word 'soupbone' used figuratively?