Bronco

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɹɑŋkoʊ/

Definitions

1. A spirited and unbroken horse known for its bucking and difficult nature
2. A robust horse known for its wildness and propensity to buck off riders, often associated with rodeo sports and characterized by its spirited demeanor
3. A horse that is not domesticated and is known for its challenging and spirited behavior

Etymology: The English "bronco" entered the language in the 19th century from Spanish, where "bronco" originally meant "rough," in the sense of something coarse, unpolished, or harsh to the touch. The sense that matters for the horse came from Mexican usage, in which the word described a horse that had never been broken to saddle and remained wild. That makes the horse a little more specific than the everyday "wild horse." A bronco is an animal still resisting human control, the kind a rider has to contend with before any real work can begin. The term travelled north with the vocabulary of the cattle ranches and open ranges of the American West, where Spanish-speaking horsemen had long shaped the language of horse handling.

Synonyms: mustang, stallion, wild horse, steed, equine