crupper

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a strap or loop passing under a horse's tail to prevent a saddle or harness from sliding forward

   The rider adjusted the crupper before leading the horse down the steep trail.

2. 2
   noun

   archaic: the rump or hindquarters of a horse or other animal

   Mud covered the horse from its crupper to its hocks.

From Middle English croper, borrowed from Anglo-French croupere, 'strap attached to the croup,' from croupe, 'rump.' The equipment name and the older anatomical sense both refer to a horse's hindquarters.

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