n. & v.
--n.
1. a a hard permanent outgrowth, often curved and pointed, on the head of cattle, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and other esp. hoofed mammals, found singly, in pairs, or one in front of another. b the structure of a horn, consisting of a core of bone encased in keratinized skin.
2 each of two deciduous branched appendages on the head of (esp. male) deer.
3 a hornlike projection on the head of other animals, e.g. a snail's tentacle, the crest of a horned owl, etc.
4 the substance of which horns are composed.
5 anything resembling or compared to a horn in shape.
6 Mus. a French horn. b a wind instrument played by lip vibration, orig. made of horn, now usu. of brass. c a horn player.
7 an instrument sounding a warning or other signal (car horn; foghorn).
8 a receptacle or instrument made of horn, e.g. a drinking-vessel or powder-flask etc.
9 a horn-shaped projection.
10 the extremity of the moon or other crescent.
11 a an arm or branch of a river, bay, etc. b (the Horn) Cape Horn.
12 a pyramidal peak formed by glacial action.
13 coarse sl. an erect penis.
14 the hornlike emblem of a cuckold.
--v.tr.
1. (esp. as horned adj.) provide with horns.
2 gore with the horns.
Phrases and idioms:
horn in sl.
1. (usu. foll. by on) intrude.
2 interfere. horn of plenty a cornucopia. horn-rimmed (esp. of spectacles) having rims made of horn or a substance resembling it. on the horns of a dilemma faced with a decision involving equally unfavourable alternatives.
Derivatives:
hornist n. (in sense 6 of n.). hornless adj. hornlike adj.
Etymology: OE f. Gmc, rel. to L cornu