withers

/ˈwɪð.ɚz/

UK: /ˈwɪð.əz/

WꞮÐ · ɚz (2 syllables)

English Noun Top 27,571

Definition

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.

Etymology

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”).