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Glite Dictionary
staggers

staggers

9.9
A sickness in animals like horses that makes them walk unsteadily and fall often
  • noun
  • /ˈstæɡərz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : temblor
  • The horse showed signs of staggers after grazing on toxic plants.

Examples

  • Sheep suffering from staggers often collapse suddenly in their pens.

  • The veterinarian diagnosed the horse with staggers after observing its unsteady gait.

  • Farmers are warned to watch for signs of staggers during the wet season.

  • Farmers are concerned about staggers affecting their cattle.

  • The horse suffered from staggers, causing it to sway as it walked.

  • Farmers often worry about staggers in their cattle during hot weather.

  • Signs of staggers include difficulty standing and unsteady movements in horses.

Synonyms

blind staggers
vsstaggers
  • Specialized
9.9

A disease in horses and cows that makes them walk unsteadily and fall often

applies to animals generally rather than only to horses and cattle

Compounds

blind staggers
  • Specialized
9.9

A disease in horses and cows that makes them walk unsteadily and fall often

Surface Forms

stagger singular
staggers plural

Morphology

staggers = stagger (transparent) = stagger + s

The disease name denotes a condition characterized by staggering and is clearly derived from the verb 'stagger' with a nominalizing -s.

Etymology

The word staggers comes from the verb stagger, which means 'to walk unsteadily'. Farmers began to call the illness in animals staggers because sick animals sway, stumble, and often fall, so the name simply describes what the disease does.