pastern

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pas=tern

CIDE DICTIONARY

pastern, n. [Of. pasturon, F. pâturon, fr. OF. pasture a tether, for beasts while pasturing; prop., a pasturing. See Pasture.].

•  The part of the foot of the horse, and allied animals, between the fetlock and the coffin joint. See Illust. of Horse.  [1913 Webster]

  " The upper bone, or phalanx, of the foot is called the great pastern bone; the second, the small pastern bone; and the third, in the hoof, the coffin bone."  [1913 Webster]
•  A shackle for horses while pasturing.  Knight.  [1913 Webster]
•  A patten.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

Pastern joint, the joint in the hoof of the horse, and allied animals, between the great and small pastern bones.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pastern, n.
1 the part of a horse's foot between the fetlock and the hoof.
2 a corresponding part in other animals.

Etymology

ME pastron f. OF pasturon f. pasture hobble ult. f. L pastorius of a shepherd: see PASTOR