withers

American  

[with-erz] / ˈwɪð ərz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. the highest part of the back at the base of the neck of a horse, cow, sheep, etc.

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idioms

1. wring one's withers, to cause one anxiety or trouble.

   The long involved lawsuit is wringing his withers.

withers British  

/ ˈwɪðəz /

plural noun

1. the highest part of the back of a horse, behind the neck between the shoulders

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Etymology

Origin of withers

First recorded in 1535–45; origin uncertain

Explanation

Horse breeders and riders measure horses at the withers, or the shoulder blades, since it's a stable point that doesn't move, unlike the horse's head and neck. Horsey folks will know this word as denoting the high point on a horse's back, where the shoulder bones meet, and you can use it for that part of a dog's body as well. It's an old word in English, and it maintains a dignified silence about its true origins — and why, like scissors and pants, it's a plural denoting a single thing.

Example Sentences

It also withers behind a paywall, is manipulated by social media algorithms and hollowed out by covert corporate consolidation.

From Salon • May 26, 2025

Their results show that the grass withers due to a lack of water inside the fairy circle.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2024

Ninagawa’s work has explored the cruelty and evil that lurk behind beauty, the way light and darkness are inseparable, and how a flower withers yet later can sprout new buds.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 8, 2024

The resulting pack animals measured 61 inches, or 15 hands, from the ground to the withers.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2023

Smith pulled the saddle over Seabiscuit’s withers and tightened the girth.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand