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pastern

[ pas-tern ]
/ ˈpæs tərn /
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noun

the part of the foot of a horse, cow, etc., between the fetlock and the hoof.
either of the two bones of this part, the upper or first phalanx (great pastern bone, orfetter bone ) and the lower or second phalanx (small pastern bone ), between which is a joint (pastern joint ).

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Origin of pastern

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pastron “shackle,” probably same word as Middle French pasturon, pastern, from unattested Vulgar Latin pastōria “herding” + Middle French -on noun suffix; see pastor, -ia

Words nearby pastern

pastelist, pastel orange, paste mold, paste-on, paster, pastern, Pasternak, Pasternak, Boris, paste-up, Pasteur, Pasteur effect
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for pastern

British Dictionary definitions for pastern

pastern
/ (ˈpæstən) /

noun

the part of a horse's foot between the fetlock and the hoof
Also called: fetter bone either of the two bones that constitute this part

Word Origin for pastern

C14: from Old French pasturon, from pasture a hobble, from Latin pāstōrius of a shepherd, from pastor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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