stag-evil
Definition
Noun: A disease in horses, specifically tetanus or lockjaw, characterized by stiffness of the jaw muscles and difficulty in opening the mouth.
Usage Examples
- (A case of tetanus in a horse.)
- (A preventable disease in equines.)
Advanced Usage
- "to suffer from stag-evil": to be afflicted with this disease.
- The old mare began to suffer from stag-evil, showing rigid muscles and a locked jaw. (The horse displayed symptoms of tetanus.)
Variants and Related Words
- Staggers (n): a different nervous system disease in horses, often confused with stag-evil but involving unsteady gait rather than jaw stiffness.
- The horse with staggers wobbled as it walked, unlike the rigid jaw of stag-evil. (A distinct equine condition.)
Synonyms
- Lockjaw: the common name for tetanus, especially in animals, referring to the inability to open the mouth.
- Tetanus: the medical term for the bacterial infection causing muscle stiffness, including in horses.
Related Idioms
- Not applicable: "stag-evil" is a specific veterinary term and does not appear in common idiomatic expressions.