spavin

American  

[spav-in] / ˈspæv ɪn /

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

1. a disease of the hock joint of horses in which enlargement occurs because of collected fluids bog spavin, bony growth bone spavin, or distention of the veins blood spavin.

2. an excrescence or enlargement so formed.

---

spavin British  

/ ˈspævɪn /

noun

1. vet science enlargement of the hock of a horse by a bony growth ( bony spavin ) or fluid accumulation in the joint ( bog spavin ), usually caused by inflammation or injury, and often resulting in lameness

---

Etymology

Origin of spavin

1400–50; late Middle English spaveyne < Old French ( e ) spavain, esparvain swelling < ?

Example Sentences

For 19 years he tended the ring bone and spavin of Brooklyn carriage horses, got in with the politically right people.

From Time Magazine Archive

Why, this horse—if you can call such an animal a dignified name like that—has the heaves, a spavin, spring-halt, blind-staggers, and a few other things.

From Dick Hamilton's Fortune The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son by Garis, Howard R.

Nothing like having a horse that may develop spavin, ring bone or heaves on the road any min246ute, or a wagon that may drop all four wheels at once and break every spring.

From Dick Hamilton's Fortune The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's Son by Garis, Howard R.

It is sometimes found in the vein which lies superficial over the inside of the hock joint, and may be due to the pressure of a spavin.

From Special Report on Diseases of the Horse by Michener, Charles B.

This bunch differs from bog spavin in that it is hard, while bog spavin is soft.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry