rowel
/ˈraʊ(ə)l
/noun
A spiked revolving disc at the end of a spur.Through the fifteenth century rowels became smaller and spur necks became longer....
- This is very nice cavalry spur: it still has the rowel on the back, which is sharp & functional.
- Spillers customers can choose from more than 30 spur designs and rowels.
verb (rowels, rowelling, rowelled; US rowels, roweling, roweled) [with object]
Use a rowel to urge on (a horse): he rowelled his horse on as fast as he could...
- Bates roweled his horse and disappeared down the street in a dead run.
- In order to compel greater obedience, riders attach a small spiked wheel at the end of the spur called a rowel which digs into the animal's undersides causing excruciating pain and bloody gashes from being rowelled too hard.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French roel(e), from late Latin rotella, diminutive of Latin rota 'wheel'.