SPAVINED Meaning and
Definition
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Spavined is an adjective that describes a horse that is afflicted with a particular condition known as spavin. Spavin is a degenerative disease that affects a horse's hock joint, often causing lameness and disfigurement. This term can also be used metaphorically to describe a person or thing that is worn out, broken down, or in a state of decline, similar to the way a spavined horse is physically impaired.
In a broader sense, spavined can be used to describe anything that appears old, shabby, or past its prime. It is often associated with the idea of dilapidation and decay, suggesting that the subject is no longer serviceable or in good condition.
The word spavined originated from the noun spavin, which dates back to the late 16th century and stems from the French word espavin, meaning "swelling." It was particularly used to refer to a swelling or enlargement around the hock joint of a horse. Over time, the adjective spavined evolved as a way to describe the condition of a horse afflicted with spavin, and eventually expanded its meaning to describe other things or people that exhibit a similar state of deterioration or disrepair.
Overall, spavined is a descriptive term used to convey the idea of physical or metaphorical impairment, decline, or degradation, particularly with regard to horses and other objects or entities that were once in sound condition but have since fallen into disrepair.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for SPAVINED
Etymology of SPAVINED
The word "spavined" originates from the Middle English word "spaveynde", which in turn comes from the Old French word "espaventié", meaning "crippled" or "lame". The Old French term is derived from the Latin "spasmus", meaning "spasm" or "contraction", which ultimately traces back to the Greek word "spházein" (σπάζειν), also meaning "to contract" or "draw together". "Spavined" has been used in English since the 15th century to describe a person or animal suffering from lameness or a specifically diseased condition of the hock joint in horses.
Similar spelling word for SPAVINED
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