[horse] n, pl hors.es also horse [ME hors, fr. OE; akin to OHG hros horse] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): a large solid-hoofed herbivorous mammal (Equus caballus, family Equidae, the horse family) domesticated since a prehistoric period and used as a beast of burden, a draft animal, or for riding (2): racehorse "play the ~s" b: a male horse; esp: stallion c: a recent or extinct animal (as a zebra, ass, or onager) of the horse family
2. a: jackstay b: a frame usu. with legs used for supporting something (as planks or staging) c (1): pommel horse (2): vaulting horse 3 horse pl: cavalry
4: a mass of the same geological character as the wall rock occurring within a vein
5: horsepower
6. slang: heroin 7: an athlete whose performance is consistently strong and reliable "a team with the ~s to win the pennant" -- horse.less adj -- horse.like adj -- from the horse's mouth : from the original source
[2]horse vb horsed ; hors.ing vt (bef. 12c) 1: to provide with a horse
2: to move by brute force ~ vi, of a mare: to be in heat [3]horse adj (15c) 1 a: of or relating to a horse b: hauled or powered by a horse "a ~ barge"
2: large or coarse of its kind
3: mounted on horses "~ guards"