crupper

American  

[kruhp-er, kroop-] / ˈkrʌp ər, ˈkrʊp- /

noun

1. a leather strap fastened to the saddle of a harness and looping under the tail of a horse to prevent the harness from slipping forward.

2. the rump or buttocks of a horse.

3. armor for the rump of a horse.

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crupper British  

/ ˈkrʌpə /

noun

1. a strap from the back of a saddle that passes under the horse's tail to prevent the saddle from slipping forwards

2. the part of the horse's rump behind the saddle

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Etymology

Origin of crupper

1250–1300; Middle English cro ( u ) per, variant of cruper < Anglo-French. See croup ², -er ²

Example Sentences

The crupper strap in the Sherman Monument can be unscrewed and pulled aside to allow the hatch door to be lifted off.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2013

Ordinarily, the hatch is covered by a bronze version of a crupper strap, which runs from the saddle to a loop around the horse’s tail.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2013

Lancelot leaned on the withers of his horse, lifted his right leg over the crupper, and found himself on the ground.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Tenderly he buckled the crupper, and the horse edged around to try to kick him.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

The Lapith attacks the Centaur from behind, resting his right knee on his crupper, and extending forward his 134 right arm to seize the neck of his foe.

From A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume I (of 2) by Smith, A. H.