withers
nounUS /ˈwɪð.ɚz/ · UK /ˈwɪð.əz/
Etymology From dialectal English wither (“against”) (compare wither-) + -s; see with. So-named because it is the part of the horse that pushes against a load. Compare German Widerrist (“withers”), from wider (“against”) + Rist (“wrist”).
1
Plural normally 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.
- Derived terms
- fistulous withers, wither-wrung, wring one's withers
- Hyponyms
- nape
- Coordinate terms
- scruff