withers

American  

[with-erz] / ˈwɪð ərz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. the highest part of the back at the base of the neck of a horse, cow, sheep, etc.

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idioms

1. wring one's withers, to cause one anxiety or trouble.

   The long involved lawsuit is wringing his withers.

withers British  

/ ˈwɪðəz /

plural noun

1. the highest part of the back of a horse, behind the neck between the shoulders

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Etymology

Origin of withers

First recorded in 1535–45; origin uncertain

Explanation

Horse breeders and riders measure horses at the withers, or the shoulder blades, since it's a stable point that doesn't move, unlike the horse's head and neck. Horsey folks will know this word as denoting the high point on a horse's back, where the shoulder bones meet, and you can use it for that part of a dog's body as well. It's an old word in English, and it maintains a dignified silence about its true origins — and why, like scissors and pants, it's a plural denoting a single thing.

Example Sentences

It is the latest adaptation of a novel by Colleen Hoover and stars Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

You don’t totally buy his character exists in reality, but Withers believes in it enough to get the job done.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

“You’re a member of the L.A. County Club? Not anymore, you’re not,” said Alan Witlen, a partner in the private client and tax practice at Withers in Los Angeles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

Michael Rueda, the head of the sports and entertainment practice at the law firm Withers, said recruiting a professional athlete into an activist campaign can help bring attention that lesser-known investors can’t.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025

Winston did not know why Withers had been disgraced.

From "1984" by George Orwell