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.

---

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

---

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

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

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

The rowel of his spur rattled as he jerked his foot up and down at the ankle.

From A Tar-Heel Baron by Holloway, Edward Stratton

It is reddish, rounded at the toe, and carries a spur at least a pound in weight, with a rowel three inches in diameter!

From The Scalp Hunters by Stewart, F.A.

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

From Ladies on Horseback Learning, Park-Riding, and Hunting, with Hints upon Costume, and Numerous Anecdotes by Lambert, Nannie

Scarcely had the rowel reached his side, when down he fell, sending me head foremost over his neck into the water.

From Arthur O'Leary His Wanderings And Ponderings In Many Lands by Lever, Charles James

Related Words

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