Main Entry:

pas·tern

Pronunciation:

\ˈpas-tərn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle French pasturon, from pasture pastern, from Old French empasturer to hobble (a horse), from pasture tether, modification of Late Latin (chorda) pastoria, from Latin, feminine of pastorius of a herdsman, from pastor herdsman — more at pastor

Date:

circa 1530

1 : a part of the foot of an equine extending from the fetlock to the top of the hoof — see horse illustration 2 : a part of the leg of an animal other than an equine that corresponds to the pastern