Farriery. ? Obs. Also 7 pl. crepanches, 8 (mispr.) crepane. [In 17th c. crepanches, crepances, ad. It. crepacci pl., ‘the scratches, cratches, or rats-tailes in a horse … little chaps or rifts about the cronet of the horses hoofe’ (Florio, 1598), f. crepare to crack, chap:—L. crepāre to crack, etc.] A sore or wound on a horse’s foot; see quots.
1610. Markham, Masterp., II. lxxxvi. 366. The Scratches, Crepanches, or Rats-tailes … are long, scabby, dry chaps, or rifts … on the hinder legges, just from the fetlocke vnto the place of the Curbe.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Crepances, Ulcers in the Fore-part of a Horse’s foot … caused by a Hurt receiv’d in leaping over a Bar, or the like.
1755. Johnson, Crepane [a misprint copied in later Dicts.].
1823. Crabb, Technol. Dict., Crepance (Vet.), a chop, or scratch in a horse’s leg … which often degenerates into an ulcer.
