Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Spavin

Spav′in

,
Noun.
[OE.
spaveyne
, OF.
esparvain
, F.
éparvin
; akin to OF.
espervier
a sparrow hawk, F.
épervier
, fr. OHG.
sparwāri
(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.)
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Spavin

SPAV'IN

,
Noun.
A tumor or excrescence that forms on the inside of a horse's hough, not far from the elbow; at first like gristle, but afterwards hard and bony.

Definition 2024


spavin

spavin

English

Noun

spavin (plural spavins)

  1. A disease of horses characterized by a bony swelling developed on the hock as the result of inflammation of the bones.
    • 1920, Peter B. Kyne, The Understanding Heart, Chapter XII
      1. “As an inventor,” Bob Mason suggested, “you're a howling success at shooting craps ! If I were as free of spavins, ringbone, saddle-galls, and splints as you are, I'd have that nanny-goat in here, hog-tie her, flop her and let the boy help himself. []

Derived terms

  • blood spavin
  • bog spavin
  • bone spavin