GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 2 definitions

1.       
    Rowel , n. [OF. roele, rouele, properly, a little wheel, F. rouelle collop, slice, LL. rotella a little wheel, dim. of L. rota a wheel. See Roll, and cf. Rota.]
   The little wheel of a spur, with sharp points.
   1913 Webster
   With sounding whip, and rowels dyed in blood.
   Cowper.
   
   1913 Webster
   A little flat ring or wheel on horses' bits.
   1913 Webster
   The iron rowels into frothy foam he bit.
   Spenser.
   
   1913 Webster
   (Far.) A roll of hair, silk, etc., passed through the flesh of horses, answering to a seton in human surgery.
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2.       
    Rowel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Roweled  or Rowelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Roweling or Rowelling.] (Far.) To insert a rowel, or roll of hair or silk, into (as the flesh of a horse).
   Mortimer.
   
   1913 Webster