withers
See also: Withers
English edit
Etymology edit
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]
Pronunciation edit
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈwɪð.ɚz/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɪð.əz/
- Hyphenation: with‧ers
Audio (UK) (file)
Noun edit
withers pl (normally plural, singular wither)
- 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. [from 1580]
Usage notes edit
Even in the plural, this noun refers to one object. The synonymous singular, wither, is less common.
Hyponyms edit
Coordinate terms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
part of the back of a draft animal
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Further reading edit
Verb edit
withers
- third-person singular simple present indicative of wither
References edit
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “withers”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.