Definition of the word boner

The word "boner" as a slang term for an embarrassing mistake or awkward social mishap can be traced back to the early 1900s. Its origins, however, are somewhat contested. One theory has it that the term stemmed from the hunting and fishing world, where a "boner" referred to a careless or costly error made by a hunter or fisherman, such as missing a shot or mistaking a fish for a waste product like a turtle's shell. Another theory suggests that the term came from the 1920s slang term "bone," which was used to describe a woman who was difficult to woo or win over. The suggestion is that a man who made a clumsy or socially awkward move in the pursuit of a "bone" would be expected to suffer a "boner." A third theory claims that the term was coined by jazz musicians in the 1920s and 1930s, where "bone" was slang for a musical instrument, such as a saxophone or trumpet. The suggestion is that a musician suffering a "boner," or making a mistake while performing, could cause the entire band to suffer a covering of shame. Regardless of its origin, "boner" became a widely used slang term in the mid-20th century, particularly among teenagers and young adults, to describe a variety of embarrassing moments, from forgetting someone's name to tripping over one's own feet.