n.
Pronunciation: ' pas-t ə rn
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