splint bone

noun

1. one of the rudimentary, splintlike metacarpal or metatarsal bones of the horse or some allied animal, one on each side of the back of each cannon bone.

splint bone

noun

1. one of the rudimentary metacarpal or metatarsal bones in horses and similar animals, occurring on each side of the cannon bone

Word History and Origins

Origin of splint bone¹

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

They bring to mind the reduced splint bones of modern horses that sit to either side of the central, third toe.

From Scientific American

He fractured a splint bone, he'd been swimming a lot but there's no substitute for cantering.

From The Guardian

The large metacarpal is called in veterinary anatomy “cannon bone”; the small lateral metacarpals, which gradually taper towards their lower extremities, and lie in close contact with the large one, are called “splint bones.”

From Project Gutenberg

Algorithms, scratched before Sunday's Fountain of Youth because of a splint bone injury in his right front leg, drops off the list after being ranked second.

From Newsweek

He was scratched before Sunday's Fountain of Youth because of a splint bone injury in his right front leg.

From Seattle Times