farrier

American  

[far-ee-er] / ˈfær i ər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a blacksmith.

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farrier British  

/ ˈfærɪə /

noun

1. a person who shoes horses

2. archaic another name for veterinary surgeon

3. military a noncommissioned officer who looks after horses

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Etymology

Origin of farrier

1375–1425; variant of ferrier < Middle French, Old French < Latin ferrārius “smith” (equivalent to ferr(um) “iron” + -ārius -ary ); replacing late Middle English fer(r)our < Anglo-French, Old French ferreor < Latin ferrātor (unattested)

Explanation

A farrier is a person whose job involves taking care of horses' hooves and shoeing them if they need protection. Being a farrier was far more common hundreds of years ago, when horses were a major form of transportation. If you love working with horses, you might consider being a farrier. The job involves a lot of knowledge of and care for the animals' feet, with additional skills in working with metal, bending and shaping it to fit a horse's hoof. In fact, the term farrier demonstrates how closely related the profession is to blacksmithing, or making things from metal: farrier comes from the Latin root ferrum, or "iron."

Example Sentences

Trainer is a former farrier and while this is no shoe-in, could well show many rivals a clean pair of heels.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2023

Along with veterinary and farrier fees, there are also monthly insurance payments on the properties, as well as payroll for workers.

From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2020

Ring gets his horseshoes from a farrier friend of his, who gives him old horseshoes in exchange for help with occasional welding projects.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2017

His father, James, held a variety of jobs, from farrier to candy maker, and the family moved often.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2016

It had been so long since a farrier had trimmed War Chief’s hooves that he hobbled painfully around the yard like a crippled ballerina.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos