rowel

Meanings

Noun

• The small spiked wheel on the end of a spur.
• A little flat ring or wheel on a horse's bit.
• A roll of hair, silk, etc., passed through the flesh of a horse in the manner of a seton in human surgery.

Verb

• To use a rowel on (something), especially to drain fluid.
• To fit with spurs.
• To apply the spur to.
• To incite; to goad.

Origin

• From Middle English rowel, rowell, rowelle, from Old French roel, roiele (compare modern French rouelle), from Late Latin rotella, diminutive of Latin rota ("wheel").