horse Meaning, Definition & Usage

Horse noun

Etymology

AS. hors; akin to OS. hros, D. & OHG. ros, G. ross, Icel. hross; and perh. to L. currere to run, E. course, current Cf. Walrus.

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A hoofed quadruped of the genus Equus; especially, the domestic horse (E. caballus), which was domesticated in Egypt and Asia at a very early period. It has six broad molars, on each side of each jaw, with six incisors, and two canine teeth, both above and below. The mares usually have the canine teeth rudimentary or wanting. The horse differs from the true asses, in having a long, flowing mane, and the tail bushy to the base. Unlike the asses it has callosities, or chestnuts, on all its legs. The horse excels in strength, speed, docility, courage, and nobleness of character, and is used for drawing, carrying, bearing a rider, and like purposes. ✍ Many varieties, differing in form, size, color, gait, speed, etc., are known, but all are believed to have been derived from the same original species. It is supposed to have been a native of the plains of Central Asia, but the wild species from which it was derived is not certainly known. The feral horses of America are domestic horses that have run wild; and it is probably true that most of those of Asia have a similar origin. Some of the true wild Asiatic horses do, however, approach the domestic horse in several characteristics. Several species of fossil (Equus) are known from the later Tertiary formations of Europe and America. The fossil species of other genera of the family Equidæ are also often called horses, in general sense.
2. The male of the genus horse, in distinction from the female or male; usually, a castrated male.
3. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished from foot.

   The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five thousand horse and foot. Bacon.

4. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.
5. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers were made to ride for punishment.
6. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a horse; a hobby.
7. (Mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.
8. (Naut.) (a) See Footrope, a. (b) A breastband for a leadsman. (c) An iron bar for a sheet traveler to slide upon. (d) A jackstay. W. C. Russell. Totten. ✍ Horse is much used adjectively and in composition to signify of, or having to do with, a horse or horses, like a horse, etc.; as, horse collar, horse dealer or horsedealer, horsehoe, horse jockey; and hence, often in the sense of strong, loud, coarse, etc.; as, horselaugh, horse nettle or horse-nettle, horseplay, horse ant, etc.

Horse transitive verb

Etymology

AS. horsion.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Horsed ; present participle & verbal noun Horsing

Definitions

1. To provide with a horse, or with horses; to mount on, or as on, a horse. "Being better horsed, outrode me." Shak.
2. To sit astride of; to bestride. Shak.
3. To cover, as a mare; -- said of the male.
4. To take or carry on the back; as, the keeper, horsing a deer. S. Butler.
5. To place on the back of another, or on a wooden horse, etc., to be flogged; to subject to such punishment.

Horse intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To get on horseback. Obs. Shelton.