withers

IPA/ˈwɪðəz/
KK[wˈɪðɚz]IPA/ˈwɪðərz/

withers — noun

1. the raised ridge of bone between a horse's shoulder blades, forming the highest

1.nounC2
Definition

the raised ridge of bone between a horse's shoulder blades, forming the highest point of its back and used as a reference for measuring the animal's height.

Example

Brandon measured the horse at the withers before ordering a new saddle.

at the withers — measurement reference point

The old mare's withers were sore from the poorly fitted harness.

Common collocations
  • at the withers
  • high withers
  • pronounced withers
  • rubbed withers
  • withers height
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

withers + plural verb

at the withers

at + possessive + withers

Usage Note

Withers is always used in the plural form, like 'scissors' or 'trousers,' even when referring to a single animal. Frequently appears in the phrase 'at the withers' to indicate the point of measurement for a horse's height.

Common Mistakes

The horse has a high wither.
The horse has high withers.
The word 'withers' is always plural in form.

2. the corresponding ridge of bone between the shoulder blades of a four-legged ani

2.nounC2
Definition

the corresponding ridge of bone between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal that is not a horse, such as a dog, giraffe, or goat.

Example

Gabriel measured the dog from the withers to the tail for the harness fitting.

withers of a dog — applied to non-horse quadruped

In many dog breeds, the withers are the highest point used to measure height.

Common collocations
  • at the withers
  • height at the withers
  • hold under the withers
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

withers of [animal]

at the withers

Usage Note

Used primarily in veterinary and zoological contexts when describing quadruped anatomy. For horses the term is everyday equestrian vocabulary; for other animals it is more technical.

Common Mistakes

The dog's wither is sore.
The dog's withers are sore.
The word is always plural in form, even for a single animal.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Withers is the only standard English term for the ridge between the shoulder blades of a quadruped, used in everyday equestrian and veterinary language since the 16th century. 'Shoulder ridge' is a descriptive phrase rather than a technical term — it might appear in non-specialist writing when a writer wants to avoid the plural form. 'Dorsal ridge' is a broader anatomical term that can refer to any raised structure along the back of an animal, including the spine itself, so it is less precise. For example, a horse trainer would say 'check the fit at the withers,' not 'check the fit at the dorsal ridge.' In a veterinary report, the doctor might write 'palpable swelling over the withers' — using 'shoulder ridge' there would sound informal.

withers ↗shoulder ridgedorsal ridge

Common collocations

Nouns

  • withers height
  • withers measurement
  • withers pain

Phrases

  • stand at the withers
  • measure at the withers
  • high withers
  • pronounced withers

Prepositions

  • at the withers
  • along the withers
  • between the withers

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'withers' comes from the Old English 'wiðer' (meaning 'against' or 'opposite'), referring to the part of the horse's back that pushes against the collar of a harness. The 's' ending is not a plural of a singular form 'wither' — the word has always appeared in this shape, like 'scissors' or 'tweezers,' because it was originally understood as the place where two shoulder blades meet. The same 'wiðer' root appears in 'withstand' (to stand against) and 'withdraw' (to pull against).

First known use

1580

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1