SPAVINS

Noun

spavins

plural of spavin

Source: Wiktionary


SPAVIN

Spav"in, n. Etym: [OE. spaveyne, OF. esparvain, F. éparvin; akin to OF. espervier a sparrow hawk, F. épervier, fr. OHG. sparwari (G. sperber), fr. OHG. sparo sparrow, because this disease makes the horse raise the infirm leg in the manner of a sparrow hawk or sparrow. See Sparrow.] (Far.)

Definition: A disease of horses characterized by a bony swelling developed on the hock as the result of inflammation of the bones; also, the swelling itself. The resulting lameness is due to the inflammation, and not the bony tumor as popularly supposed. Harbaugh. Bog spavin, a soft swelling produced by distention of the capsular ligament of the hock; -- called also blood spavin.

– Bone spavin, spavin attended with exostosis; ordinary spavin.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

15 June 2025

SCHNORR

(verb) obtain or seek to obtain by cadging or wheedling; “he is always shnorring cigarettes from his friends”


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Coffee Trivia

In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.

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