°Shaped like a
U, or like the letter
upsilon; specifically, designating a
bone or group of bones supporting the
tongue.
"1969: The hyoid bone in her throat flutters as if discharging some subvocal rosary. — JG Ballard, The Atrocity Exhibition"
noun
"1973: the vulture, relinquishing its title, surely in natural justice gave me a right to this femur, this curiously distorted hyoid? — Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise"