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Webster 1913 Edition

Withers

With′ers

,
Noun.
pl.
[Properly, the parts which resist the pull or strain in drawing a load; fr. OE.
wither
resistance, AS.
wiðre
, fr.
wiðer
against; akin to G.
wider
rist withers. See
With
,
p
rep.
]
The ridge between the shoulder bones of a horse, at the base of the neck. See Illust. of
Horse
.
Let the galled jade wince; our
withers
are unwrung.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Withers

WITHERS

,
Noun.
[This seems to signify a joining, from the root of with.] The juncture of the shoulder bones of a horse, at the bottom of the neck.

Definition 2024

Withers

Withers

See also: withers

English

Proper noun

Withers

  1. A surname​.

withers

withers

See also: Withers

English

Noun

withers pl ‎(plural only)

  1. (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.

Coordinate terms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

withers

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative form of wither

References

  1. ↑ “withers” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Anagrams

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

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