HORSE, n. hors.

1. A species of quadrupeds of the genus Equus, having six erect and parallel foreteeth in the upper jaw, and six somewhat prominent in the under jaw; the dogteeth are solitary, and the feet consist of an undivided hoof. The horse is a beautiful animal, and of great use for draught, or conveyance on his back. Horse, in English, is of common gender, and may comprehend the male and female.
2. A constellation. Creech.
3. Cavalry; a body of troops serving on horseback. In this sense, it has no plural termination. We say, a thousand horse; a regiment of horse.
4. A machine by which something is supported; usually, a wooden frame with legs. Various machines used in the arts are thus called. Encyc.
5. A wooden machine on which soldiers ride by way of punishment; sometimes called a timber-mare. Johnson.
6. In seamen's language, a rope extending from the middle of a yard to its extremity, to support the sailors while they loose, reef or furl the sails; also, a thick rope extended near the mast for hoisting a yard or extending a sail on it. Mar. Dict. To take horse, to set out to ride on horseback. Addison. #2. To be covered, as a mare.

1. To mount on a horse.
2. To carry on the back. The keeper, horsing a deer. Butler.
3. To ride astride; as, ridges horsed. Shak.
4. To cover a mare, as the male. Mortimer.

1. A hoofed quadruped of the genus Equus; especially, the domestic horse (E. caballus), which was domesticated in Egypt and Asia at a very early period. It has six broad molars, on each side of each jaw, with six incisors, and two canine teeth, both above and below. The mares usually have the canine teeth rudimentary or wanting. The horse differs from the true asses, in having a long, flowing mane, and the tail bushy to the base. Unlike the asses it has callosities, or chestnuts, on all its legs. The horse excels in strength, speed, docility, courage, and nobleness of character, and is used for drawing, carrying, bearing a rider, and like purposes.
   
   

   * Many varieties, differing in form, size, color, gait, speed, etc., are known, but all are believed to have been derived from the same original species. It is supposed to have been a native of the plains of Central Asia, but the wild species from which it was derived is not certainly known. The feral horses of America are domestic horses that have run wild; and it is probably true that most of those of Asia have a similar origin. Some of the true wild Asiatic horses do, however, approach the domestic horse in several characteristics.
   Several species of fossil (Equus) are known from the later Tertiary formations of Europe and America. The fossil species of other genera of the family Equidæ are also often called horses, in general sense.

2. To provide with a horse, or with horses] to mount on, or as on, a horse.
   
   
   "Being better horsed, outrode me." Shak.
3. To get on horseback.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shelton.
4. A translation or other illegitimate aid in study or examination; -- called also trot, pony, Dobbin.
   
   
   (b)
5. The male of the genus horse, in distinction from the female or male; usually, a castrated male.
6. To sit astride of; to bestride.
   
   
   Shak.
7. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished from foot.
   
   

   The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five thousand horse and foot. Bacon.

8. To cover, as a mare; -- said of the male.
9. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.
10. To take or carry on the back; as, the keeper, horsing a deer.
    
    
    S. Butler.
11. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers were made to ride for punishment.
12. To place on the back of another, or on a wooden horse, etc., to be flogged; to subject to such punishment.
13. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a horse; a hobby.
14. A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.
15. See Footrope, a.
    
    
    (b)