"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"
2.adjectiveShaped 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"