horsyadj.
/ˈhɔːsi/, U.S. /ˈhɔrsi/ 1. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a horse or horses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > equus caballus or horse > [adjective]
horselyc1386
chevaline1550
horsy1591
equinal1609
caballine1712
hippian1758
equine1778
hippic1846
1591 E. Spenser Virgil's Gnat in Complaints sig. H2 Th'halfe horsy people, Centaures hight.
1864 Daily Tel. 19 Oct. Elk-flesh is a decidedly horsey species of game.
2. Having to do with horses; addicted or devoted to horses, horse racing, and matters of the stable; affecting the dress and language of a groom or jockey.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [adjective]
riding1544
equestrial1556
prickant1613
equestrian1656
horsy1849
equitative1855
muleback1904
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [adjective] > having to do with horses
horsinga1627
hippological1777
groomy1849
horsy1849
hippophile1866
1849 R. S. Surtees Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour i, in New Monthly Mag. Jan. 3 [His] groomy gait and horsey propensities.
1858 Almae Matres 6 The horsy individual then related an anecdote.
1881 Athenæum 19 Mar. 392/1 ‘In Luck's Way’ is a horsy, if not a racy story.
1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. v. 111 They..were both horsey and doggy, and plain-spoken to brusqueness.
3. Of the mare: Desiring the horse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by gender or age > [adjective] > of or like a mare > in heat (of mare)
horsing1577
horsy1870
1870 Blaine's Encycl. Rural Sports (rev. ed.) §1012 Separated from other mares, which, becoming horsy, will kick them.
Compounds
horsy-looking adj.
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1851 R. S. Surtees Soapey Sponge's Sporting Tour lxiii, in New Monthly Mag. Jan. 120 He's a horsey lookin' sort o' man.
horsy-minded adj.
ΚΠ
1886 Cyclists' Touring Club Gaz. May 183/2 Horsey-minded road trustees and sheriffs.
Derivatives
ˈhorsyism n. horsy quality and practice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [noun] > devotion to horses
horsiness1864
horsyism1882
1882 Daily News 31 Jan. 5/7 Horseyism is a word that has been coined to express that inexplicable affinity which equine pursuits seem to have in some countries with rough manners and loud oaths.
ˈhorsily adv. in a horsy manner.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [adverb]
horsily1889
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [adverb] > horsy manner
horsily1889
1889 Sat. Rev. 30 Nov. 614/2 If he be horsily inclined.
Draft additions 1993
Also horsie. A child's word or pet name for a horse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > equus caballus or horse > [noun]
horsec825
blonkOE
brockc1000
mareOE
stota1100
caplec1290
foala1300
rouncyc1300
scot1319
caballc1450
jade1553
chival1567
prancer1567
ball1570
pranker1591
roussin1602
wormly1606
cheval1609
sonipes1639
neigher1649
quadruped1660
keffel1699
prad1703
jig1706
hoss1815
cayuse1841
yarraman1848
quad1854
plug1860
bronco1869
gee-gee1869
quadrupedant1870
rabbit1882
gee1887
neddy1887
nanto1889
prod1891
goat1894
skin1918
bang-tail1921
horsy1923
steed-
1923 Hirsch & Kaplan (title of song) Horsey! Keep your tail up.
1928 ‘Brent of Bin Bin’ Up Country v. 65 They began to play ‘horsies’ with gum switches which had been stabled near the kitchen.
1943 D. Parker Here Lies 70 Let's you and I go out and get a horsie.
1958 A. Huxley Let. 6 July (1969) 852 Poor Helen will have to be disappointed about the horsey.
1977 M. French Women's Room ii. ii. 68 Interests narrow to focus on the energies of one or two or three small bodies..charging around the room screaming at high pitch on ‘horsies’ made of broomsticks.
1988 Sun (Brisbane) 9 June 46 Nice horsey... Please win the race today... I'm betting on you.
Draft additions March 2008
horsy set n. originally U.S. (with the) a clique or circle of wealthy socialites characterized by enthusiasm for equestrian pursuits.
ΚΠ
1886 N.-Y. Times 13 Dec. 8/4 The sport [sc. sledding] having been approved by both the very fashionable and the ‘horsey’ sets in society, the lesser world takes to it naturally.
1923 Life 18 Jan. 24/2 Two pictures which are both about the Long Island horsy set.
1984 Times 1 Aug. 11/4 There must be easier ways to gatecrash the horsy set.
2006 Business Day (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 24 Nov. 9 Riverclub was established in the '70s on what used to be farmland and was popular among the horsey set.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1591