horse : Idioms & Phrases

• in racing or politics, a horse or a candidate whose chances of success are not known, and whose capabilities have not been made the subject of general comment or of wagers . Colloq.

Webster 1913

• noun a high-stepping horse originating in Kentucky
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish of the Mississippi valley (Cycleptus elongatus), of the sucker family; the Missouri sucker.

Webster 1913

• etc. See under Black, etc.

Webster 1913

• a horse whose blood or lineage is derived from the purest and most highly prized origin or stock.

Webster 1913

• the net effective power of a prime mover, as a steam engine, water wheel, etc., in horse powers, as shown by a friction brake. See Friction brake, under Friction.

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• a horse kept for drawing a carriage.

Webster 1913

• noun draft horse kept for pulling carts
  carthorse; drayhorse.
  

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• a horse which draws a cart; a horse bred or used for drawing heavy loads.

Webster 1913

• noun horse trained for battle
  

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• noun a muscular cramp (especially in the thigh or calf) following vigorous exercise
  charley horse.
  

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• noun a muscular cramp (especially in the thigh or calf) following vigorous exercise
  charley horse.
  

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• noun strong draft horse for drawing coaches
  

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• noun a chief of the Sioux who resisted the invasion of the Black Hills and joined Sitting Bull in the defeat of General Custer at Little Bighorn (1849-1877)
  Tashunca-Uitco.
  

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• noun a political candidate who is not well known but could win unexpectedly
  
• noun a racehorse about which little is known
  

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• noun earliest horse; extinct primitive dog-sized four-toed Eocene animal
  eohippus.
  

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• an expression applied to a debt for wages paid in advance. Law

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina).

Webster 1913

• . Same as Draught box, Draught engine, etc. See under Draught.

Webster 1913

• noun horse adapted for drawing heavy loads
  draft horse; draught horse.
  

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• noun horse adapted for drawing heavy loads
  draft horse; draught horse.
  

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• a horse employed in drawing loads, plowing, etc., as distinguished from a saddle horse or carriage horse.

Webster 1913

• noun horse adapted for drawing heavy loads
  draft horse; draught horse.
  

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• a heavy, strong horse used in drawing a dray.

Webster 1913

• noun a quiet plodding workhorse
  dobbin.
  

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• noun female equine animal
  mare.
  

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• a thill horse.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), an additional footrope at the end of a yard.

Webster 1913

• noun a gift (usually of inferior quality) that should be accepted uncritically
  
  • it wasn't much, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth

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• noun a padded gymnastic apparatus on legs
  horse.
  

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• noun horse used for pulling vehicles
  

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• noun an attitude of arrogant superiority
  
  • get off your high horse and admit you are wrong

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• (Zoöl.), the gnu.

Webster 1913

• one employed in subduing or training horses for use.

Webster 1913

• caballine aloes.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large ant (Formica rufa); called also horse emmet.

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• verb indulge in horseplay
  arse around; fool; fool around.
  
  • Enough horsing around--let's get back to work!
  • The bored children were fooling about

WordNet

• that portion of the artillery in which the cannoneers are mounted, and which usually serves with the cavalry; flying artillery.

Webster 1913

• noun erect perennial strong-scented with serrate pointed leaves and a loose panicle of yellowish flowers; the eastern United States
  horseweed; stone root; richweed; stone-root; stoneroot; Collinsonia canadensis.
  

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• (Bot.), a strong-scented labiate plant (Collinsonia Canadensis), having large leaves and yellowish flowers.

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• noun a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
  stalls; stable.
  

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• noun a bean plant cultivated for use animal fodder
  broad bean.
  

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• (Bot.), a variety of the English or Windsor bean (Faba vulgaris), grown for feeding horses.

Webster 1913

• noun stable gear consisting of a blanket placed under the saddle
  saddlecloth; saddle blanket.
  

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• a boat for conveying horses and cattle, or a boat propelled by horses.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) See Botfly, and Bots.

Webster 1913

• noun parasitic chiefly on horses
  Gasterophilus intestinalis.
  

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• a railroad car for transporting valuable horses, as hunters. Eng.

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• noun breeding horses
  

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• noun a very prickly woody vine of the eastern United States growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries
  catbrier; horse brier; greenbrier; Smilax rotundifolia; briar; bullbrier; brier.
  

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• . (a) A railroad car drawn by horses. See under Car. (b) A car fitted for transporting horses.

Webster 1913

• noun heavy cart; drawn by a horse; used for farm work
  horse cart.
  

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• noun East Indian tree having long pods containing a black cathartic pulp used as a horse medicine
  Cassia marginata; Cassia roxburghii.
  
• noun tropical American semi-evergreen tree having erect racemes of pink or rose-colored flowers; used as an ornamental
  pink shower tree; pink shower; Cassia grandis.
  

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• (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Cassia Javanica), bearing long pods, which contain a black, catharic pulp, much used in the East Indies as a horse medicine.

Webster 1913

• noun troops trained to fight on horseback
  cavalry; horse.
  
  • 500 horse led the attack
• noun an army unit mounted on horseback
  

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• noun tree having palmate leaves and large clusters of white to red flowers followed by brown shiny inedible seeds
  Aesculus hippocastanum; buckeye.
  
• noun the inedible nutlike seed of the horse chestnut
  conker; buckeye.
  

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• a cloth to cover a horse.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large, spiral, marine shell of the genus Triton. See Triton.

Webster 1913

• . (a) One that runs horses, or keeps horses for racing. Johnson. (b) A dealer in horses. Obs. Wiseman.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the Limulus; called also horsefoot, horsehoe crab, and king crab.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the cavally. a type of fish

Webster 1913

• noun a veterinarian who treats horses
  

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• (Zoöl.), the horse ant.

Webster 1913

• noun a person who breeds and cares for horses
  horseman.
  

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• (Zoöl.), the chaffinch. Prov. Eng.

Webster 1913

• noun large swift fly the female of which sucks blood of various animals
  clegg; cleg; horsefly.
  

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• noun coarse weedy American perennial herb with large usually perfoliate leaves and purple or dull red flowers
  Triostium perfoliatum; feverroot; wild coffee; tinker's root.
  

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• (Bot.), fever root.

Webster 1913

• noun twining herb of Old World tropics cultivated in India for food and fodder; sometimes placed in genus Dolichos
  horse grain; Dolichos biflorus; poor man's pulse; Macrotyloma uniflorum.
  

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• noun twining herb of Old World tropics cultivated in India for food and fodder; sometimes placed in genus Dolichos
  horse grain; Dolichos biflorus; poor man's pulse; Macrotyloma uniflorum.
  

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Horse" Guards`

Definitions

1. (Mil.) A body of cavalry so called; esp., a British regiment, called the Royal Horse Guards, which furnishes guards of state for the sovereign.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), a large calking iron.

Webster 1913

• noun either of two belts or regions near 30 degrees north or 30 degrees south; characterized by calms and light-baffling winds
  horse latitude.
  

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• noun either of two belts or regions near 30 degrees north or 30 degrees south; characterized by calms and light-baffling winds
  horse latitude.
  

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• a space in the North Atlantic famous for calms and baffling winds, being between the westerly winds of higher latitudes and the trade winds. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Webster 1913

• noun largest tuna; to 1500 pounds; of mostly temperate seas: feed in polar regions but breed in tropics
  bluefin tuna; bluefin; Thunnus thynnus.
  
• noun large elongated compressed food fish of the Atlantic waters of Europe
  saurel; Trachurus trachurus.
  
• noun a California food fish
  Spanish mackerel; jack mackerel; saurel; Trachurus symmetricus.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The common tunny (Orcynus thunnus), found on the Atlantic coast of Europe and America, and in the Mediterranean. (b) The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). (c) The scad. (d) The name is locally applied to various other fishes, as the California hake, the black candlefish, the jurel, the bluefish, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun horse excreta used as fertilizer
  

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• (Naut.), an awkward, lubbery person; one of a mythical body of marine cavalry. Slang

Webster 1913

• noun coarse edible mushroom with a hollow stem and a broad white cap
  Agaricus arvensis.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a large, marine mussel (Modiola modiolus), found on the northern shores of Europe and America.

Webster 1913

• noun coarse prickly weed having pale yellow flowers and yellow berrylike fruit; common throughout southern and eastern United States
  Solanum carolinense; bull nettle; ball nightshade; ball nettle.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), a coarse, prickly, American herb, the Solanum Carolinense.

Webster 1913

• noun large black Old World grouse
  capercaillie; capercailzie; Tetrao urogallus.
  

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• noun a film about life in the western United States during the period of exploration and development
  Western.
  

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• noun European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb
  Smyrnium olusatrum; Alexanders; black lovage; Alexander.
  

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• . (Bot.) See Alexanders.

Webster 1913

• noun a large pistol (usually in a holster) formerly carried by horsemen
  horse pistol.
  

WordNet

Horse" pow`er

Definitions

1. .
2. The power which a horse exerts.
3. (Mach.) A unit of power, used in stating the power required to drive machinery, and in estimating the capabilities of animals or steam engines and other prime movers for doing work. It is the power required for the performance of work at the rate of 33,000 English units of work per minute; hence, it is the power that must be exerted in lifting 33,000 pounds at the rate of one foot per minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, or 55 pounds at the rate of ten feet per second, etc. ✍ The power of a draught horse, of average strength, working eight hours per day, is about four fifths of a standard horse power.
4. A machine worked by a horse, for driving other machinery; a horse motor.

Webster 1913

• (Bot.), a coarse fleshy weed of tropical America (Trianthema monogymnum).

Webster 1913

• noun a contest of speed between horses; usually held for the purpose of betting
  

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• a race by horses; a match of horses in running or trotting.

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• noun the sport of racing horses
  

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• the practice of racing with horses.

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• noun coarse Eurasian plant cultivated for its thick white pungent root
  Armoracia rusticana; horseradish; red cole.
  

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• a railroad on which the cars are drawn by horses; in England, and sometimes in the United States, called a tramway.

Webster 1913

• (Civil Engin.), a device for drawing loaded wheelbarrows up an inclined plane by horse power.

Webster 1913

• noun sound practical judgment
  gumption; mother wit; good sense; sense; common sense.
  
  • Common sense is not so common
  • he hasn't got the sense God gave little green apples
  • fortunately she had the good sense to run away

WordNet

• strong common sense. Colloq. U.S.

Webster 1913

• a cavalryman.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large, coarse, commercial sponge (Spongia equina).
• a coarse commercial sponge, especially Spongia equina.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large dragon fly. Prov. Eng.

Webster 1913

• (Bot.), a shrub of the southern part of the United States (Symplocos tinctoria), whose leaves are sweet, and good for fodder.

Webster 1913

• noun European annual wild lettuce having prickly stems; a troublesome weed in parts of United States
  Lactuca serriola; prickly lettuce; Lactuca scariola.
  

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• noun winged fly parasitic on horses
  Hippobosca equina; horsefly.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a winged, dipterous insect (Hippobosca equina), which troubles horses by biting them, and sucking their blood; called also horsefly, horse louse, and forest fly.

Webster 1913

• noun the swapping of horses (accompanied by much bargaining)
  horse trade.
  

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• noun a hard bargainer
  

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• noun the swapping of horses (accompanied by much bargaining)
  horse trade.
  
• noun negotiation accompanied by mutual concessions and shrewd bargaining
  

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• (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hippocrepis (H. comosa), cultivated for the beauty of its flowers; called also horsehoe vetch, from the peculiar shape of its pods.

Webster 1913

• noun a cowboy who takes care of the saddle horses
  wrangler.
  

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• noun the hoof of a horse
  

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• adjective satellite relating to the time before automobiles (and other inventions) changed the way people lived in industrialized nations
  

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• noun a very prickly woody vine of the eastern United States growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries
  catbrier; horse brier; greenbrier; Smilax rotundifolia; briar; bullbrier; brier.
  

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• noun heavy cart; drawn by a horse; used for farm work
  horse cart.
  

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Horse`-chest"nut noun

Definitions

1. (Bot.) (a) The large nutlike seed of a species of Æsculus (Æ. Hippocastanum), formerly ground, and fed to horses, whence the name. (b) The tree itself, which was brought from Constantinople in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and is now common in the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The native American species are called buckeyes.

Webster 1913

• noun trees having showy flowers and inedible nutlike seeds in a leathery capsule
  family Hippocastanaceae; Hippocastanaceae.
  

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• adjective pulled by a horse
  
  • a horse-drawn carriage

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• noun a wheeled vehicle drawn by one or more horses
  

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Horse"-drench` noun

Definitions

1. A dose of physic for a horse. Shak.
2. The appliance by which the dose is administred.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several silvery marine fishes with very flat bodies
  Selene setapinnis; horsefish; horsehead; dollarfish; moonfish; Atlantic moonfish.
  

WordNet

Horse"-jock`ey noun

Definitions

1. A professional rider and trainer of race horses.
2. A trainer and dealer in horses.

Webster 1913

Horse"-leech` noun

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A large blood-sucking leech (Hæmopsis vorax), of Europe and Northern Africa. It attacks the lips and mouths of horses.
2. A farrier; a veterinary surgeon.

Webster 1913

Horse"-leech`er*y noun

Definitions

1. The business of a farrier; especially, the art of curing the diseases of horses.

Webster 1913

Horse"-lit`ter noun

Definitions

1. A carriage hung on poles, and borne by and between two horses. Milton.

Webster 1913

• noun a large pistol (usually in a holster) formerly carried by horsemen
  horse pistol.
  

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• verb compete in a horse race
  

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Horse"-rad`ish noun

Definitions

1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Nasturtium (N. Armoracia), allied to scurvy grass, having a root of a pungent taste, much used, when grated, as a condiment and in medicine. Gray.

Webster 1913

• verb negotiate with much give and take
  

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• noun a trail for horses
  

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• the power exerted in the cylinder of an engine, stated in horse powers, estimated from the diameter and speed of the piston, and the mean effective pressure upon it as shown by an indicator. See Indicator.

Webster 1913

• noun (c. 1840) an early term for a locomotive
  

WordNet

• a locomotive engine. Colloq.
• a locomotive. Colloq.

Webster 1913

• a sumpter horse, or a spare horse, that is led along.

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• (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses.

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• noun a gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting
  buck; long horse.
  

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• noun the male of species Equus caballus
  

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• noun an edible agaric with yellow gills and a viscid yellow cap that has a brownish center
  Tricholoma flavovirens.
  

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• the third great officer in the British court, having the management of the royal stables, etc. In ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the sovereign.

Webster 1913

• (Steam Engine), a term still sometimes used in England to express certain proportions of cylinder, but having no value as a standard of measurement.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite small and remote and insignificant
  pokey; jerkwater; poky.
  
  • a jerkwater college
  • passed a series of poky little one-horse towns

WordNet

One"-horse` adjective

Definitions

1. Drawn by one horse; having but a single horse; as, a one-horse carriage.
2. Second-rate; inferior; small. Slang, U.S.

Webster 1913

• noun a horse marked by stamina and trained to move at a fast running walk
  Plantation walking horse; Tennessee walker; Tennessee walking horse.
  

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• noun a horse used to pull a plow
  plough horse.
  

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• noun a horse used to pull a plow
  plough horse.
  

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• noun the horse having a starting position next to the inside rail in a harness race
  
• noun a draft horse harnessed alongside the shaft or pole of a vehicle
  poler.
  

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• noun a gymnastic horse with a cylindrical body covered with leather and two upright handles (pommels) near the center; held upright by two steel supports, one at each end
  pommel horse.
  

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• noun a horse kept at an inn or post house for use by mail carriers or for rent to travelers
  poster; post horse.
  

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• a horse stationed, intended, or used for the post.

Webster 1913

• noun a horse kept at an inn or post house for use by mail carriers or for rent to travelers
  poster; post horse.
  

WordNet

• noun wild horse of central Asia that resembles an ass; now endangered
  Equus caballus przevalskii; Equus caballus przewalskii; Przevalski's horse.
  

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• noun wild horse of central Asia that resembles an ass; now endangered
  Equus caballus przevalskii; Equus caballus przewalskii; Przevalski's horse.
  

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• noun a small powerful horse originally bred for sprinting in quarter-mile races in Virginia
  

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• noun a horse bred for racing
  bangtail; racehorse.
  

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• . (a) A horse that runs in competition; specifically, a horse bred or kept for running races . (b) A breed of horses remarkable for swiftness in running . (c) (Zoöl.) The steamer duck . (d) (Zoöl.) A mantis.

Webster 1913

Rear"-horse` noun

Etymology

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A mantis.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) (a) Any large American red fresh-water sucker, especially Moxostoma macrolepidotum and allied species . (b) See the Note under Drumfish.

Webster 1913

• noun a lightweight horse kept for riding only
  mount; riding horse.
  

WordNet

• noun massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa
  Hippopotamus amphibius; hippo; hippopotamus.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the hippopotamus.

Webster 1913

• noun a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride
  hobby; hobbyhorse.
  

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Rock"ing-horse` noun

Definitions

1. The figure of a horse, mounted upon rockers, for children to ride.

Webster 1913

• noun a lightweight horse kept for riding only
  mount; riding horse.
  

WordNet

• a horse suitable or trained for riding with a saddle.

Webster 1913

• the sailor's name for salt beef.
• salted beef. Slang

Webster 1913

• noun either of two large northern marine mammals having ivory tusks and tough hide over thick blubber
  seahorse; walrus.
  
• noun small fish with horse-like heads bent sharply downward and curled tails; swim in upright position
  seahorse.
  

WordNet

Sea" horse`

Definitions

1. A fabulous creature, half horse and half fish, represented in classic mythology as driven by sea dogs or ridden by the Nereids. It is also depicted in heraldry. See Hippocampus.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The walrus. (b) Any fish of the genus Hippocampus. ✍ In a passage of Dryden's, the word is supposed to refer to the hippopotamus.

Webster 1913

• (Harness making), a clamp, operated by the foot, for holding pieces of leather while being sewed.

Webster 1913

• noun British breed of large heavy draft horse
  shire.
  

WordNet

• noun a gymnastic horse with a cylindrical body covered with leather and two upright handles (pommels) near the center; held upright by two steel supports, one at each end
  pommel horse.
  

WordNet

• noun a candidate put forward to divide the Opposition or to mask the true candidate
  
• noun something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
  pretext.
  
• noun screen consisting of a figure of a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
  
• noun a horse behind which a hunter hides while stalking game
  

WordNet

Stalk"ing-horse noun

Definitions

1. A horse, or a figure resembling a horse, behind which a hunter conceals himself from the game he is aiming to kill.
2. Fig.: Something used to cover up a secret project; a mask; a pretense.

   Hypocrisy is the devil's stalking-horse under an affectation of simplicity and religion. L'Estrange.

   How much more abominable is it to make of him [Christ] and religion a stalking-horse, to get and enjoy the world! Bunyan.

Webster 1913

• noun a child's plaything consisting on an imitation horse's head on one end of a stick
  

WordNet

Stone"-horse` noun

Definitions

1. Stallion. Obs. Mortimer.

Webster 1913

Stud"-horse` noun

Etymology

Definitions

1. A stallion, esp. one kept for breeding.

Webster 1913

• noun a horse marked by stamina and trained to move at a fast running walk
  Plantation walking horse; Tennessee walker; Tennessee walking horse.
  

WordNet

• noun a racehorse that is three years old
  three year old.
  

WordNet

• to be on one's dignity; to bear one's self loftily. Colloq.

Webster 1913

• to throw with the feet upwards, in such a manner as to prevent its rising again.

Webster 1913

• to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter. Thackeray.

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• to examine the mouth of a horse which has been received as a gift, in order to ascertain his age; hence, to accept favors in a critical and thankless spirit. Lowell.

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• to invert the order of related facts or ideas, as by putting an effect for a cause.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To set out on horseback. Macaulay. (b) To be covered, as a mare. (c) See definition 7 (above).
• to mount and ride a horse.

Webster 1913

• noun a rack consisting of one or more bars on which towels can be hung
  towel rack.
  

WordNet

• noun a subversive group that supports the enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage; an enemy in your midst
  fifth column.
  
• noun a program that appears desirable but actually contains something harmful
  trojan.
  
  • the contents of a trojan can be a virus or a worm
  • when he downloaded the free game it turned out to be a trojan horse
• noun a large hollow wooden figure of a horse (filled with Greek soldiers) left by the Greeks outside Troy during the Trojan War
  Trojan Horse.
  

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• noun a horse trained to trot; especially a horse trained for harness racing
  trotter.
  

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• noun a racehorse that is two years old
  two year old.
  

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• noun a gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting
  buck; long horse.
  

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• noun a horse marked by stamina and trained to move at a fast running walk
  Plantation walking horse; Tennessee walker; Tennessee walking horse.
  

WordNet

• a horse used in war; the horse of a cavalry soldier; especially, a strong, powerful, spirited horse for military service; a charger.

Webster 1913

• noun a draft horse harnessed behind others and nearest the wheels of a vehicle
  wheeler.
  

WordNet

• one of the horses nearest to the wheels, as opposed to a leader, or forward horse; called also wheeler.

Webster 1913

• noun a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white
  whitecap; white horse.
  

WordNet

• noun weedy nightshade with silvery foliage and violet or blue or white flowers; roundish berry widely used to curdle milk; central United States to South America
  silver-leaved nettle; silver-leaved nightshade; trompillo; prairie berry; purple nightshade; silverleaf nightshade; Solanum elaeagnifolium.
  

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• noun a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white
  whitecap; white horse.
  

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• (Naut.), white-topped waves; whitecaps.

Webster 1913

• noun undomesticated or feral domestic horse
  

WordNet

• noun a large hollow wooden figure of a horse (filled with Greek soldiers) left by the Greeks outside Troy during the Trojan War
  Trojan Horse.
  

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