Definition

A male animal that has one or two testicles that have not descended into the scrotum, often used in reference to horses or other livestock.

Example

The ridgeling was not suitable for breeding due to its undescended testicles.

Conversation

Have you ever heard the term ridgeling?

Yeah, I think it refers to a male animal that hasn’t fully descended, right?

Exactly! I came across it while reading about horse breeding.

That makes sense; I guess it’s important for breeders to know about things like ridgelings.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ridgeling → The word 'ridgeling' is derived from 'ridge' (from Old English 'hrycg', meaning a raised strip of land) and the diminutive suffix '-ling' (meaning little or young). Thus, 'ridgeling' refers to a young or small ridge, often used in the context of a young male horse that has not been castrated.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'ridge' as a small raised area of land, and the '-ling' suffix indicates something young or small. This helps you remember that a 'ridgeling' is a young horse associated with a ridge.

Visually Confused Words