cross-countryadj.
a. Across the country transversely to the great highways; across the fields, etc., instead of following the roads.
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society > travel > [adjective] > cross-country or off-road
cross-country1767
off-road1954
off-highway1961
1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ Another Traveller! I. 316 We had a cross-country road back to Alost.
1786 W. Cowper Gratitude 20 These carpets..Oh spare them, ye knights of the boot, Escaped from a cross country ride!
1885 H. O. Forbes Naturalist's Wanderings Eastern Archipel. 191 The main cross-country road to Bencoolen.
1891 Harper's Mag. Aug. 364/2 Some cross-countrymen [sc. horsemen] brush such things aside as trivial.
b. Applied to flying across the country. Also absol., a cross-country flight.
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society > travel > air or space travel > [adjective] > type of flight
unmanned1544
motorless1897
flapping1899
cross-country1909
fly-through1983
society > travel > air or space travel > [noun] > a flight through air or space > other types of flight
night flight1830
solo1911
mercy flight1933
cross-country1948
general aviation1952
free flight1954
GA1974
instrument flight1988
1909 Daily Chron. 9 Sept. 1/6 The first cross-country flight of note was made by M. Farman on October 30, 1908.
1948 ‘N. Shute’ No Highway xi. 287 He..had hit a hill, like any pupil on his first cross-country.
Draft additions August 2007
Skiing. Designating or relating to a style of (long-distance) skiing over relatively flat terrain, as opposed to down mountain slopes. Cf. Nordic adj. 2.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > skiing > [adjective] > types of skiing
Alpine1903
cross-country1911
downhill1911
para-ski1942
Nordic1948
off-piste1959
heli-ski1982
back country1983
1911 Chicago Tribune 26 Mar. 1/2 The cross country ski events will begin in the city.
1938 Times 29 Nov. 39/4 For those who like cross-country skiing the Black Forest has a charm all its own.
1960 Ski-ing (‘Know the Game’ Ser.) 24/2 The Nordic events include cross-country races and jumping competitions.
2004 P. J. Conradi Going Buddhist 29 I attempted cross-country skiing.
Draft additions June 2018
The sport of cross-country running (skiing, riding, cycling, etc.). Also: a competitive event in such a sport.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun] > other foot races
smock-race1707
broose1786
smock-racing1790
sack running1801
torch-race1812
torch-course1839
sack race1859
potato race1865
obstacle race1869
three-legged race1876
mud run1888
egg-and-spoon race1894
cross-country1905
obstacle course1942
runathon1943
pancake race1951
fun run1960
fun running1966
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > skiing > [noun] > types of
cross-country1905
telemarking1905
ski-joring1920
downhill1926
langlauf1927
giant slalom1937
ski-touring1960
schussbooming1961
grass skiing1964
X-C (or XC) skiing1972
heli-skiing1974
ski-walking1974
randonnée1977
sit-skiing1981
off-piste1986
snowblading1993
1905 Secret Service 21 Apr. 25/3 About how far should one, who is just taking up 'cross-country, run the first time?
1938 Amer. Ski Ann. 121 Cross-country is not the exhausting nightmare it is commonly supposed to be.
1966 S. Eriksen Come ski with Me 44 Norwegian had won the Nordic Combination and the 18 km. cross-country in Holmenkollen.
1987 Running May 33/1 There are probably many re-born runners..who were much better at school..at cross-country.
1993 Cycling Weekly 23 Jan. 17/2 Dave believes this much lighter spoking arrangement is fine for cross-country.
2005 New Scientist 27 Aug. 16/1 These [horses] are the animals that compete in events such as dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.1767