cannon bone

noun

, Zoology.

1. the greatly developed middle metacarpal or metatarsal bone of hoofed quadruped mammals, extending from the hock to the fetlock.

cannon bone

noun

1. a bone in the legs of horses and other hoofed animals consisting of greatly elongated fused metatarsals or metacarpals

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannon bone¹

1825–35; cannon in obsolete sense “tube”

Example Sentences

The “cannon bone” answers to the middle bone of the five metacarpal bones, which support the palm of the hand in ourselves.

From Project Gutenberg

The 'cannon bone' answers to the middle bone of the five metacarpal bones which support the palm of the hand in ourselves.

From Project Gutenberg

The cannon bone is the bone that extends from the fetlock to the knee , which, in the horse, corresponds to our wrist.

From Project Gutenberg

The suspensory ligament is the fibrous cord which lies between the cannon bone and the back tendons.

From Project Gutenberg

The hock is the large and freely movable joint which is immediately above the hind cannon-bone.

From Project Gutenberg