Equids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of mammal belonging to the family Equidae, typically characterized by a long mane and hooves, including horses, donkeys, and zebras
2. Members of the family Equidae that are often used for riding or work, recognized for their strong build and speed
3. Hooved animals within the Equidae family, known for their endurance, social nature, and diverse species such as horses and asses

Etymology: "Equids" is the plural of "equid", a noun for any member of the family Equidae, which includes horses, zebras and asses. The singular is a back-formation: the family name Equidae, a scientific Latin term modeled on the pattern of many family names ending in "-idae", was shortened by dropping the "-ae" ending, leaving "equid" as a standalone noun. Speakers never had to learn the Latin plural to use it, since "equid" simply became a regular English word. The word looks like a Latin combination of "equus" ("horse") and the suffix "-id", which is a tempting surface reading. The Oxford English Dictionary's account, however, points to the family name as the true source, so the resemblance to "equus" is an accident of shape rather than the route the word actually took.

Synonyms: horses, zebras, donkeys, ponies, mules