thurl

plural thurls

1. alternativeAlternative form of thirl.
2. in pluralagricultureEither of the rear hip joints where the hip connects to the upper leg in certain animals, particularly cattle; often used as a reference point for measurement.

   1918, G. C. Humphrey, The Rural Efficiency Guide, Volume 4: Stock Book, page 22, Deficiencies which are common to the hind quarters of the cow, include shortness and narrowness of rump, a drooping rump, narrowness between the thurls and pin bones and thickly fleshed thighs.

   3 more examples

   Also I would call attention to the fact that the heifers were wider through the thurls at five months of age than through the hips, but after they had become mature cows they were wider through (or across) their hips, than across their thurls.

   1921, American Genetic Association, The Journal of Heredity, page 327

   [?Although] other measurements were taken, only height at withers, depth of chest and width between thurls were analysed statistically; these measurements are representative of development in height, depth and width of body, respectively.

   1963, South African Journal of Agricultural Science, volume 6, page 478

   Her pin bones, thurls, and hips should be wide apart and level. The pin bones are the points at the rear of the cow protruding out from the pelvis. The thurls are the hip joints where the rear legs attach on either side of the cows pelvis.

   2011, Philip Hasheider, The Family Cow Handbook: A Guide to Keeping a Milk Cow, page 40

present singular third person thurls · participle present thurling · participle past thurled · past thurled

1. alternativeAlternative form of thirl.