clavicule
collarbone, clavicle
noun klah-vee-KOOL Rare
Origin: From Latin 'clavicula' (small key), for its key-like shape.
Usage Note
Clavicule is one of the most commonly broken bones in sports injuries. In French medical contexts it is always feminine. Se fracturer la clavicule ('to break one's collarbone') is a standard phrase in sports reporting. The word 'clavicle' in English is a direct borrowing of the same Latin root.
Examples
"Il s'est fracturé la clavicule en tombant."
Natural Translation
He fractured his collarbone when he fell.
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