Withers WITHERS, n. [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.
withers noun pluralEtymology: probably from obsolete English wither- against,
from Middle English, from Old English, from wither against; from the
withers being the parts which resist the pull in drawing a load — more
at withDate: 1580 1. the ridge between the shoulder bones
of a horse — see horse illustration 2. a part corresponding to
the withers in a quadruped (as a dog) other than a horse
withers n.pl. the ridge between a horse's shoulder-blades. Etymology: shortening of (16th-c.) widersome (or -sone) f. wider-, wither- against (cf. WITH), as the part that resists the
strain of the collar: second element obscure
withers
ˈwɪðəz n.pl. the ridge between a horse's
shoulder-blades. [shortening of (16th-c.) widersome (or -sone) f. wider-,
wither- against (cf. WITH), as the part that resists the strain of the collar:
second element obscure]
Withers \With"ers\, n. pl. [Properly, the parts which resist the
pull or strain in drawing a load; fr. OE. wither resistance,
AS. wi[eth]re, fr. wi[eth]er against; akin to G. widerrist
withers. See With, prep.]
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.
--Shak.
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