withers

with·ers  (wrz)

pl.n.

The high part of the back of a horse or similar animal, located between the shoulder blades.

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[Possibly from obsolete wither-, against (from the strain exerted on them when a horse draws a load), from Middle English, from Old English; see wi- in Indo-European roots.]

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withers

Noun, pl

the highest part of the back of a horse, between the shoulders [earlier widersones]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

withers - the highest part of the back at the base of the neck of various animals especially draft animals Equus caballus, horse - solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times ox - an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus sheep - woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat cervid, deer - distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers body part - any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity