the prominent parts at the extremities of a horse-shoe, bent downwards, and forged to a fort of point.

Calkins are apt to make horses trip; they also occasion blemishes, and ruin the back finewa. If fashioned in form of a hare's ear, and the horn of a horse's heel be pared a little low, they do little damage; whereas the great square calkins quite spoil the foot.

Calkins are either single or double, that is, at one end of the shoe, or at both: these last are deemed less hurtful, as the horses can tread more even.