The back part of a horse's saddle that rises up behind the rider's seat; also an archaic term for a corner, edge, or segment of something.
From Old French cantel (corner, edge) or Middle English cantel, possibly from cant (angle or edge). The saddle meaning developed in equestrian terminology during medieval times.
You'll spot 'cantle' in Western novels and riding descriptions—it's the part of the saddle a cowboy grabs when bronc-busting, and understanding saddle parts instantly makes any horse story more vivid.
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