knee-sprung

[ nee-spruhng ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

, Veterinary Pathology.

(of a horse, mule, etc.) having a forward bowing of the knee caused by shortening of the flexor tendons.

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

I let him have my old paint pony, Freckles—him being knee-sprung and not up to cow-work.

A cadaverous horse, knee-sprung and wheezy, dragged the van at the gait of a caterpillar.

A horseman would have called him knee-sprung and declared he stumbled.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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