Animal Etymology: Horse Words

The wildest colts make the best horses

Saturdays are perfect days for equine surprises. Surprise—we’re talking about words related to horses today!

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, or at least that’s what the immortal Mr. Ed said. But a horse is much more than that.

The domestication of horses in the steppes of Asia marked a turning point in human history. Not only did horses become indispensable aids in agriculture and war, but they helped spread populations, languages, and cultures across Eurasia. Little wonder our society still esteems the noble equine so highly that we sprinkle horse-related words into daily conversation:

asinine (adj) - stupid or foolish; of or like an ass

cavalier (adj) - indifferent, casual, or dismissive in attitude; uncaring or unworried
—a cavalier is a horseman, knight, or gallant

coltish (adj) - frisky and playful but awkward

equine (adj) - of, like, or pertaining to horses, zebras, and asses
–an equine is a member of the taxonomic family Equidae

gallop (verb) - to move, run, or ride at full speed
—a gallop is a horse's fastest gait, one in which all four feet come off the ground together

horse (verb) - to provide someone with a horse
–horse around means to play or fool around, usually in a boisterous way

horseplay (noun) - rough or noisy play

mulish (adj) - stubborn, inflexible, or intractable (also mule-headed)

thoroughbred (noun) - an animal or person of exceptional strength, endurance, or lineage; well-bred

workhorse (noun) - anyone or anything that dependably performs at a high level over a long period of time

What horse words did we miss?

“The horse is a great equalizer, he doesn't care how good looking you are, or how rich you are or how powerful you are—he takes you for how you make him feel.” —Buck Brannaman