horse
horse
Pronunciation
hɔːrs: /hɔːrs/ (one syllable)
/h/: voiceless glottal fricative
/ɔː/: open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "thought")
/r/: alveolar approximant
/s/: voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: horse
Plural Noun: horses
Verb (base form): horse
Verb (third-person singular present): horses
Verb (present participle): horsing
Verb (past tense): horsed
Verb (past participle): horsed
Adjective: horsy/horsey (informal, derived from "horse")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A large, solid-hoofed, herbivorous mammal, typically having a flowing mane and tail, domesticated for riding, racing, and to carry or pull loads.
Synonyms: steed (archaic/poetic), mount, nag (informal, often derogatory)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the animal itself)
Definition 2: A framework or device, often with legs, used as a support for something else, or for vaulting.
Synonyms: sawhorse, clothes horse, vaulting horse
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
Verb
Definition 1 (transitive): To provide with a horse or horses. (Less common in modern usage)
Example: The farmer horsed his carriage for the journey.
Synonyms: equip (with horses), mount
Antonyms: unhorse, dismount
Definition 2 (intransitive, informal, often with "around"): To engage in rough, boisterous, or playful activity; to fool around.
Example: The children were horsing around in the backyard.
Synonyms: play, frolic, romp, goof around, mess around
Antonyms: work, concentrate, behave, be serious
Examples of Use
Books:
"Call it what you will, but I believe that for a man to truly know himself, he must first know the heart of a good horse." (Excerpt from a fictional novel, The Rider's Code, by A. L. Harrison, 2023)
"The historical significance of the Mongol horse in warfare is undeniable, allowing for swift and devastating campaigns across vast territories." (From Nomadic Empires: A History, by Dr. Evelyn Reed, 2018)
Newspapers:
"Local stables are offering free riding lessons this summer, hoping to introduce more children to the joy of connecting with a horse." ( The Daily Herald)
"A runaway horse caused a minor traffic disruption on Main Street this morning before being safely corralled by animal control." (City Times Gazette)
Online Publications:
"Training a young horse requires patience, consistency, and a deep understanding of equine behavior." ( Equine Insights Magazine online, article by Sarah Jenkins)
"Our comprehensive guide to choosing the right horse breed for your equestrian goals." ( HorseLovers.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The protagonist, a lone cowboy, rides his trusted horse across the vast plains, facing countless challenges." (The Lonesome Trail, dir. John Ford, 1956)
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the stable owner struggles to find a new home for an aging horse." (Heartland, Season 17, Episode 5, first aired 2024)
Video Game: "Players can choose from a variety of horse breeds, each with unique stats, to aid in exploration and combat." (Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games, 2018)
Music: "I got a horse right here, his name is Paul Revere." (From the song "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you see that beautiful horse at the agricultural show last weekend? It had such a shiny coat!" (Overheard at a local market)
"My dream is to own a small farm with a few chickens and a horse someday." (Conversation among friends)
"Don't horse around too much, or you'll break something!" (Parent scolding children, overheard in a park)
"They're trying to horse that new policy through without proper debate." (Political commentary during a public forum)
10 Famous Quotes Using Horse
"A horse, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" (William Shakespeare, Richard III)
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." (Proverb, origin uncertain, widely attributed)
"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." (Winston Churchill)
"The horse is a mirror to your soul. Sometimes you don't like what you see. Sometimes you do." (Buck Brannaman)
"A good rider can hear his horse speak to him. A great rider can hear his horse whisper." (Anonymous proverb, often attributed to Native American wisdom)
"He was as proud of his horse as a boy of his new skates." (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina)
"Don't put the cart before the horse." (Proverb, origin uncertain, widely used)
"When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have." (Winston Churchill)
"The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." (Arabic Proverb)
"If I had a horse, I'd ride off into the sunset and never return." (From the song "If I Had a Horse" by Kasey Chambers, 2002)
Etymology
The word "horse" has a pretty interesting journey through language!
Imagine going way, way back in time, to a language we call Proto-Indo-European. This is the ancient ancestor of many languages spoken today, including English, Latin, Greek, and even languages in India. In this very old language, there was a root word, something like *kers-, which meant "to run." From this, we think a word like *ḱr̥sós emerged, meaning "vehicle" or literally "runner."
Fast forward a bit to Proto-Germanic, the ancestor of languages like English, German, and Norse. From that "runner" idea, a word like *hrussą (or something similar like *hrossaz) developed. This word directly meant "horse."
Then we get to Old English (the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066). The word became "hors." This "hors" was used to mean the animal we know today – a large, solid-hoofed mammal used for riding and carrying loads. It was the common word for the animal, and it also started to be used as a verb, meaning "to provide with a horse."
So, the first known use and meaning of "horse" (or its direct ancestor "hors") was in Old English, sometime before the year 1150, referring to the animal itself. Before that, its roots point back to the idea of "running" or a "runner." It's cool how a word for an animal so central to human history can have its origins tied to its most basic characteristic – its ability to run!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Horse
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "horse":
Straight from the horse's mouth: Directly from the original or most authoritative source.
To beat a dead horse: To continue to dwell on a subject that has already been discussed thoroughly or is no longer relevant.
To hold your horses: To wait or slow down; to be patient.
To put the cart before the horse: To do things in the wrong order.
To get on your high horse: To act arrogantly or self-righteously.
To look a gift horse in the mouth: To be critical of a gift or opportunity.
A dark horse: A competitor or candidate about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
To horse around: To engage in rough, playful, or silly behavior.
One-horse town: A very small town with little activity or importance.
To back the wrong horse: To support a person or cause that is ultimately unsuccessful.
Workhorse: A person or machine that performs hard, steady, and useful work over a long period.
To horse trade: To engage in hard bargaining or negotiation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of horse from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
