fetlock
UK[ˈfɛtlɒk]US[ˈfɛtˌlɑːk]
n
The projection on the back of a horse's leg above the hoof, where a tuft of hair grows.
n
The tuft of hair itself growing from this part.
Etymology
The word 'fetlock' has a straightforward yet picturesque origin in Old English. It derives from the Old English compound 'fētlōc', where 'fēt' is a variant of 'fōt', meaning 'foot', and 'lōc' refers to a lock or bundle of hair. This compound perfectly describes the anatomical feature: the joint or projection on a horse's foot where a distinctive tuft of hair grows. Over time, the term narrowed specifically to this equine feature, losing its more general potential application. Its journey from a literal description in Old English to a precise zoological term in modern English demonstrates how functional, descriptive compounds can become lexicalized as single, unsegmentable units.
Analysis
The word 'fetlock' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English. The first element is related to Middle English 'fet' meaning 'foot', and the second element '-lock' refers to a tuft or bundle of hair, wool, or similar material.
Examples
The horse had a small cut on its fetlock from the brush.
Mud was caked in the fetlocks of the ponies after the cross-country ride.
The groom carefully washed and brushed the horse's long white fetlocks.