rowel

American  

[rou-uhl] / ˈraʊ əl /

noun

1. a small wheel with radiating points, forming the extremity of a spur.

2. Veterinary Medicine. a piece of leather or the like inserted beneath the skin of a horse or other animal to promote drainage of an infection.

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verb (used with object)

roweled, roweling, rowelled, rowelling

1. to prick or urge with a rowel.

2. Veterinary Medicine. to insert a rowel in.

rowel British  

/ ˈraʊəl /

noun

1. a small spiked wheel attached to a spur

2. obsolete vet science a piece of leather or other material inserted under the skin of a horse to act as a seton and allow drainage

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verb

1. to goad (a horse) using a rowel

2. obsolete vet science to insert a rowel in (the skin of a horse) to allow drainage

Other Word Forms

• unroweled adjective

Etymology

Origin of rowel

1350–1400; Middle English rowelle < Middle French ruelle, Old French roel < Late Latin rotella, equivalent to Latin rot ( a ) wheel + -ella -elle

Example Sentences

Beneath this magnificent hat lay a pair of silver spurs with huge gold-plated, star-shaped rowels.

From Literature

Johnny took off his spurs and showed the silversmith a broken rowel.

From Literature

Lee, 6 feet tall with a full head of gray hair, wore a new uniform and a sword with a jeweled hilt, boots with red silk stitching and spurs with rowels.

From Reuters

But he sprang to the right, when the rowel went into his flank, carrying with it the assurance that the game was up.

From Project Gutenberg

I should certainly prefer a spur with a rowel as "Southern Cross" recommends, but would it not be apt to tear the habit?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coerce
• harass
• hound
• prod
• provoke
• tease