noun
ergot
A small horny growth near the back of a horse's fetlock.
A small ergot sits beneath the hair behind the horse's fetlock.
Etymology
The French word means a spur. The small horny projection near a horse’s fetlock receives the name through its resemblance to that pointed growth.
More examples
- The groom gently parts the hair to inspect the ergot.
- Some horses have larger ergots than others.
- An ergot is a normal feature of a horse's leg.
Forms
ergot · ergots
Similar words
- spur
- A broader term for a pointed projection on an animal.