rowel

[ rou-uhl ]

noun

1. a small wheel with radiating points, forming the extremity of a spur.
2. Veterinary Medicine. a piece of leather or the like inserted beneath the skin of a horse or other animal to promote drainage of an infection.

verb (used with object)

, row·eled, row·el·ing or (especially British) row·elled, row·el·ling.

1. to prick or urge with a rowel.
2. Veterinary Medicine. to insert a rowel in.

rowel

/ ˈraʊəl /

noun

1. a small spiked wheel attached to a spur
2. obsolete.
   vet science a piece of leather or other material inserted under the skin of a horse to act as a seton and allow drainage

verb

1. to goad (a horse) using a rowel
2. obsolete.
   vet science to insert a rowel in (the skin of a horse) to allow drainage

Other Words From

• un·roweled especially British un·rowelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rowel¹

1350–1400; Middle English rowelle < Middle French ruelle, Old French roel < Late Latin rotella, equivalent to Latin rot ( a ) wheel + -ella -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of rowel¹

C14: from Old French roel a little wheel, from roe a wheel, from Latin rota

Example Sentences

The rowel is one and a half or two inches in diameter, and the points are about twenty-five or thirty inches long.

From Project Gutenberg

The spurs were also richly gilded, the shank and rowel representing the thistle, and were the gift of the drummer-boys.

From Project Gutenberg

In an abandon he leaned far forward over his saddle, the rowel of his spur dug viciously into his horse's flank.

From Project Gutenberg

At the heel of one of his moccasins was buckled a huge iron spur, with a rowel five or six inches in diameter.

From Project Gutenberg

But he sprang to the right, when the rowel went into his flank, carrying with it the assurance that the game was up.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coerce
• harass
• hound
• prod
• provoke
• tease