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DictionarystifleAnimal knee joint
noun

stifle

The knee joint in the hind leg of a horse or similar animal.

The veterinarian examined the horse’s stifle.

Etymology

Origin unknown. The animal-joint name is separate from stifle, the suffocation verb.

More examples

  • The mare had swelling near the stifle.
  • The diagram shows the stifle above the hock.
  • An injury limited movement of the stifle.

Forms

stifle · stifles

Similar words

hock
The hock is a lower hind-leg joint corresponding to the ankle; the stifle corresponds to the knee.
knee
Knee is the usual human term; stifle identifies the corresponding joint in animals such as horses.