I. ˈhȯrs noun
( plural hors·es also horse )
Etymology: Middle English hors, from Old English; akin to Old High German hros horse
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) : a large solid-hoofed herbivorous ungulate mammal ( Equus caballus, family Equidae, the horse family) domesticated since prehistoric times and used as a beast of burden, a draft animal, or for riding
(2) : racehorse
play the horse s
b. : a male horse ; especially : stallion
c. : a recent or extinct animal (as a zebra, ass, or onager) of the horse family
2.
a. : jackstay
b. : a frame usually with legs used for supporting something (as planks or staging)
c.
(1) : pommel horse
(2) : vaulting horse
3. horse plural : 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 horse s to win the pennant
8. or H-O-R-S-E : a game in which players take turns attempting to duplicate successful basketball shots, a letter of the word "horse" is awarded for each missed attempt, and the first player to receive all five letters loses
• horse·less ˈhȯr-sləs adjective
• horse·like ˈhȯrs-ˌlīk adjective
•
- from the horse's mouth
[
horse 1a(1): 1 dock, 2 croup, 3 point of hip, 4 loin, 5 back, 6 withers, 7 mane, 8 crest, 9 poll, 10 forelock, 11 forehead, 12 muzzle, 13 cheek, 14 throatlatch, 15 neck, 16 shoulder, 17 chest, 18 forearm, 19 knee, 20 cannon, 21 fetlock, 22 hoof, 23 chestnut, 24 elbow, 25 barrel, 26 flank, 27 stifle, 28 pastern, 29 coronet, 30 hock, 31 gaskin, 32 tail, 33 thigh, 34 buttock
]
II. verb
( horsed ; hors·ing )
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to provide with a horse
2. : to move by brute force
intransitive verb
of a mare : to be in heat
III. adjective
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : of or relating to a horse
b. : hauled or powered by a horse
a horse barge
2. : large or coarse of its kind
3. : mounted on horses
horse guards