Horse

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /hɔːs/

Definitions

1. A large four-legged mammal with hooves, a mane, and a tail, commonly used for riding, racing, or pulling loads
2. A strong domesticated animal with a long mane and tail that serves purposes such as transportation, work in agriculture, and competitive racing
3. A powerful hoofed creature known for its speed and endurance, often utilized in sports, labor, and leisure activities

Etymology: The English word for this animal descends from a root meaning "to run," and its earliest ancestor was apparently a word for a vehicle rather than a creature. Proto-Indo-European speakers likely used a term built on "ḱers-," "to run," for a cart or conveyance. That same root gave Latin "currus," meaning chariot or wagon, and English "car" entered the language as a doublet of it, so "horse" and "car" are cousins that split apart long ago. The word spread through the Germanic languages as "hrussą," and Old English shaped it into "hors." Its relatives survive across the family, including Dutch "hors" and German "Ross," along with Icelandic "hross." The animal was, in a sense, named for the thing it pulled or carried, with the running idea carried over from the cart to the beast. Speakers also turned the noun into a verb. Old English "horsian" meant to provide with horses, or to set someone on a horse, and it became Middle English "horsen."

Synonyms: steed, stallion, mare, pony, nag

Antonyms: donkey, mule