n. & v.
--n.
1. a a solid-hoofed plant-eating quadruped, Equus caballus, with flowing mane and tail, used for riding and to carry and pull loads. b an adult male horse; a stallion or gelding. c any other four-legged mammal of the genus Equus, including asses and zebras. d (collect.; as sing.) cavalry. e a representation of a horse.
2 a vaulting-block.
3 a supporting frame esp. with legs (clothes-horse).
4 sl. heroin.
5 colloq. a unit of horsepower.
6 Naut. any of various ropes and bars.
7 Mining an obstruction in a vein.
--v.
1. intr. (foll. by around) fool about.
2 tr. provide (a person or vehicle) with a horse or horses.
3 intr. mount or go on horseback.
Phrases and idioms:
from the horse's mouth (of information etc.) from the person directly concerned or another authoritative source. horse-and-buggy US old-fashioned, bygone. horse-block a small platform of stone or wood for mounting a horse. horse-brass see BRASS. horse-breaker one who breaks in horses. horse chestnut
1. any large ornamental tree of the genus Aesculus, with upright conical clusters of white or pink or red flowers.
2 the dark brown fruit of this (like an edible chestnut, but with a coarse bitter taste). horse-cloth a cloth used to cover a horse, or as part of its trappings. horse-coper a horse-dealer. horse-doctor a veterinary surgeon attending horses. horse-drawn (of a vehicle) pulled by a horse or horses.
Horse Guards
1. (in the UK) the cavalry brigade of the household troops.
2 the headquarters of such cavalry, esp. a building in Whitehall. horse latitudes a belt of calms in each hemisphere between the trade winds and the westerlies. horse-mackerel any large fish of the mackerel type, e.g. the scad or the tunny. horse-mushroom a large edible mushroom, Agaricus arvensis. horse opera US sl. a western film. horse-pistol a pistol for use by a horseman. horse-pond a pond for watering and washing horses, proverbial as a place for ducking obnoxious persons. horse-race a race between horses with riders. horse-racing the sport of conducting horse-races. horse sense colloq. plain common sense. horses for courses the matching of tasks and talents. horse's neck sl. a drink of flavoured ginger ale usu. with spirits. horse-soldier a soldier mounted on a horse.
horse-trading
1. US dealing in horses.
2 shrewd bargaining. to horse! (as a command) mount your horses.
Derivatives:
horseless adj. horselike adj.
Etymology: OE hors f. Gmc