PASTERN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pastern mean? 

• PASTERN (noun)
  The noun PASTERN has 1 sense:

1. the part between the fetlock and the hoof

  Familiarity information: PASTERN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PASTERN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The part between the fetlock and the hoof

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

fetter bone; pastern

Hypernyms ("pastern" is a kind of...):

bone; os (rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates)

Meronyms (parts of "pastern"):

coronet (margin between the skin of the pastern and the horn of the hoof)

Holonyms ("pastern" is a part of...):

horse's foot (the hoof of a horse)

 Context examples 

The Houyhnhnms use the hollow part, between the pastern and the hoof of their fore-foot, as we do our hands, and this with greater dexterity than I could at first imagine.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He stroked my right hand, seeming to admire the softness and colour; but he squeezed it so hard between his hoof and his pastern, that I was forced to roar; after which they both touched me with all possible tenderness.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The sorrel nag offered me a root, which he held (after their manner, as we shall describe in its proper place) between his hoof and pastern; I took it in my hand, and, having smelt it, returned it to him again as civilly as I could.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He took up all my clothes in his pastern, one piece after another, and examined them diligently; he then stroked my body very gently, and looked round me several times; after which, he said, it was plain I must be a perfect Yahoo; but that I differed very much from the rest of my species in the softness, whiteness, and smoothness of my skin; my want of hair in several parts of my body; the shape and shortness of my claws behind and before; and my affectation of walking continually on my two hinder feet.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

However, they have excellent medicines, composed of herbs, to cure accidental bruises and cuts in the pastern or frog of the foot, by sharp stones, as well as other maims and hurts in the several parts of the body.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)