To choke or suffocate someone by pressing on their neck; also a serious bacterial disease affecting horses' respiratory systems.
From Old French 'estrangel,' from Latin 'strangulare' (to strangle), possibly from Greek 'strangalē' (halter). The horse disease meaning is from the characteristic swelling.
Strangles is so common in horses that vets can diagnose it just by seeing the swollen neck glands and pus—it's been documented in horses for over 2,000 years, appearing in ancient veterinary texts.
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