withers
See also: Withers
English
Etymology
1580, from Old English dialectal wiðer (“against”) (cf. wither-) + -s; see with. So-named because the part of the horse that pushes against a load. Compare German Widerrist (“withers”), from wider (“against”) + Rist (“wrist”).[1]
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈwɪð.ɚz/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɪð.əz/
- Hyphenation: with‧ers
Noun
withers pl (plural only)
- (veterinary medicine) The part of the back of a four-legged animal that is between the shoulder blades; in many species the highest point of the body and the standard place to measure the animal's height.
Usage notes
Although this noun refers to one object, there is no corresponding singular form *wither for this word, the singular form being obsolete.
Hyponyms
Coordinate terms
Derived terms
- fistulous withers
- wither-wrung
- wring one's withers
Translations
part of the back of a draft animal
Further reading
Verb
withers
- Third-person singular simple present indicative form of wither
References
Anagrams
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