Spavin
Spavin , noun
[Old English spaveyne, Old French esparvain, French éparvin; akin to Old French espervier a sparrow hawk, French épervier, from Old High German sparwāri (German sperber), from Old High German sparo sparrow, because this disease makes the horse raise the infirm leg in the manner of a sparrow hawk or sparrow. See Sparrow.]
(Farriery) A disease of horses characterized by a bony swelling developed on the hock as the result of inflammation of the bones; also, the swelling itself. The resulting lameness is due to the inflammation, and not the bony tumor as popularly supposed. — Harbaugh
Collocations (2)
Bog spavin , a soft swelling produced by distention of the capsular ligament of the hock; -- called also blood spavin.
Bone spavin , spavin attended with exostosis; ordinary spavin.