hough

A farrier carefully examines the horse's hough.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The joint of an animal's hind leg: "hough" refers to the hock joint, specifically the joint in the hind leg of a quadruped (such as a horse, cow, or pig) that corresponds to the ankle in humans.
   • The part of the leg near this joint: It can also denote the area around the hock in animals.

2. Verb:

   • To cripple by cutting the hough: The verb form means to cut the sinews or tendons of the hough joint, typically to disable an animal (e.g., a horse or cow) and prevent it from moving.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The horse injured its hough during the race. (The joint in the hind leg was damaged.)
  • Butchers often separate the hough from the rest of the leg for certain cuts of meat. (The part of the leg near the hock joint.)

• Verb:

  • In ancient warfare, soldiers would hough enemy horses to disable them. (They cut the tendons in the hind legs to cripple the animals.)
  • The farmer had to hough the injured cow to prevent it from suffering further. (He cut the hock tendons to immobilize the animal.)

Advanced Usage

• "to hamstring" vs. "to hough": While both terms mean to disable by cutting tendons, "hough" is specifically used for animals and refers to the hock joint, whereas "hamstring" is more common for humans.
  • The hunter hough'd the deer to prevent its escape. (He cut the hock tendons to immobilize the deer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hock (n): a more common term for the same joint in animals, especially in butchery or veterinary contexts.

  • The dog has a swelling in its hock. (The joint in the hind leg.)

• Houghing (n): the act of cutting the hough tendons.

  • Houghing was a cruel but effective method of disabling livestock.

Synonyms

• Hock: the joint itself (more widely used in modern English).
• Hamstring: to disable by cutting tendons (though typically used for humans or metaphors).

Phrasal Verbs

• Hough down: to cut the hough tendons to bring an animal to the ground.
  • The warrior hough'd down the charging horse. (He cut the hock tendons to make the horse fall.)

Related Idioms

• To hough one's own leg: an archaic phrase meaning to harm oneself through one's own actions.
  • By refusing the deal, he hough'd his own leg financially. (He damaged his own prospects.)