the projection of the leg of a horse behind the joint between the cannon bone and great pastern bone, bearing a tuft of hair.
2.
the tuft of hair itself.
3.
Also called fetlock joint. the joint at this point.
Origin: 1275–1325; Middle English fitlok, akin to Middle High German viz(ze)loch, ultimately derivative of Germanic *fet-, a gradational variant of *fot-foot
early 14c., fetlak, from a Gmc. source (cf. M.H.G. fizlach, Ger. Fiszloch), perhaps related to the root of Ger. fessel "pastern." The M.E. dim. suffix -ok (from O.E. -oc) was misread and the word taken in folk etymology as being a compound of feet and lock (of hair).