coffin bone

American  

noun

1. the terminal phalanx in the foot of the horse and allied animals, enclosed in the hoof.

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coffin bone British  

noun

1. the terminal phalangeal bone inside the hoof of the horse and similar animals

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Etymology

Origin of coffin bone

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

The tissue between the hoof and the coffin bone, the lowest bone in a horse, becomes inflamed and in the some cases the two parts separate.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2023

“It’s when the connective tissues between the hoof and the coffin bone are compromised and the coffin bone rotates toward the sole of the hoof.”

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

“If this horse keeps working, his coffin bone will rotate until it punctures his sole, and then you’ll lose him,” I say unequivocally.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

The pododerm closely invests the coffin bone, lateral cartilages, and plantar cushion, much as a sock covers the human foot, and is itself covered by the horny capsule, or hoof.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.

The foot-axis is an imaginary line passing from the fetlock joint through the long axes of the two pasterns and coffin bone.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.