■ noun
1》 an outgrowth of bone encased in hardened skin, often curved and pointed, found in pairs on the heads of cattle, sheep, goats, etc.
↘a hardened woolly outgrowth occurring singly or one behind another on the snout of a rhinoceros.
↘a ~-like projection on the head of another animal, e.g. a snail's tentacle.
↘( ~s ) archaic a pair of ~s as an emblem of a cuckold.
2》 the substance of which ~s are composed.
↘a receptacle made of ~, such as a drinking container.
3》 a sharp promontory or mountain peak.
↘( the Horn ) Cape Horn (in South America).
↘an arm or branch of a river or bay.
↘the extremity of the moon or other crescent.
4》 a wind instrument, conical in shape or wound into a spiral, originally made of ~ (now typically brass).
5》 an instrument sounding a warning or other signal.
6》 Brit. vulgar slang an erect penis.
■ verb
1》 butt or gore with the ~s.
2》 ( ~ in ) informal interfere.
Phrases
blow (or toot ) one's own ~ N. Amer. informal boast about oneself or one's achievements.
draw (or pull ) in one's ~s become less assertive or ambitious.
on the ~ N. Amer. informal on the telephone.
on the ~s of a dilemma faced with a decision involving equally unfavourable alternatives.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~ist noun
~less adjective
~-like adjective
Origin
OE, of Gmc origin.