Farrier is now usually applied specifically to a blacksmith who specializes in shoeing horses, a skill that requires not only the ability to shape and fit horseshoes, but also the ability to clean, trim, and shape a horse's hooves. When farrier first appeared in English (as ferrour), it referred to someone who not only shoed horses, but who provided general veterinary care for them as well. Middle English ferrour was borrowed from the Anglo-French word of the same form, which referred to a blacksmith who shoes horses. That word derives from the verb ferrer ("to shoe horses"), which can ultimately be traced back to Latin ferrum, meaning "iron."
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebEmily Mohring has been a professional pig farrier, akapig husk trimmer, for over 10 years. Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2022 His father, in his first letter home from America, lamented that his son’s training as a farrier was for naught. Sam Roberts, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2020 Today, farriers use a dull version of this blade to clean the crud from the underside of horse hooves, but other than that, these tools aren’t frequently seen anymore.Popular Science, 14 Apr. 2020 Today, farriers use a dull version of this blade to clean the crud from the underside of horse hooves, but other than that, these tools aren’t frequently seen anymore.Popular Science, 14 Apr. 2020 Today, farriers use a dull version of this blade to clean the crud from the underside of horse hooves, but other than that, these tools aren’t frequently seen anymore.Popular Science, 14 Apr. 2020 Today, farriers use a dull version of this blade to clean the crud from the underside of horse hooves, but other than that, these tools aren’t frequently seen anymore.Popular Science, 14 Apr. 2020 Today, farriers use a dull version of this blade to clean the crud from the underside of horse hooves, but other than that, these tools aren’t frequently seen anymore. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2020 Patrick is the farrier for the donkeys … people call 'em horseshoers and all that, but our donkeys don't have shoes.CBS News, 23 Nov. 2019 See More
Word History
Etymology
alteration of Middle English ferrour, from Anglo-French ferrour blacksmith, from ferrer to shoe (horses), from Vulgar Latin *ferrare, from Latin ferrum iron