unhitchv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈhɪtʃ/, U.S. /ˌənˈhɪtʃ/ 1. transitive. To detach (from a practice).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > give up a habit or practice [verb (transitive)] > cause one to or disaccustom
unwone1340
disuse1489
discustom1502
wean1526
disaccustom1530
uncustom1530
unaccustom1580
unwont1580
to break (any one) of a practice or habit1612
disinure1613
unhitch1622
unhabit1650
dishabituate1869
wean1891
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. i. i. 10 From which terrible griping..nothing can vn-hitch them but deaths flesh-hooke.
2. To detach (a horse, etc.) by undoing a fastening (also reflexive):absolute.1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 150 So he helped me to unhitch, and I led the horses, while he dragged the buggy across.
a. From a vehicle, plough, or the like.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [verb (transitive)] > remove from tether, hobble, etc.
uncurb1580
untrace1604
unhitch1706
unpicket1839
unbear1853
unhobble1881
1706 J. Stevens New Spanish Dict. i Destravar, to unhitch.
1862 B. Taylor At Home & Abroad 2nd Ser. ii. iv. 91 While the younger children unhitched and watered the horses.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols i. 2 My Chinese carter..unhitching his two mules [from the cart], went off and left me in the encampment.
b. From something to which its head is tied.
ΚΠ
1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 386/2 I went out and unhitched the horse, and drove straight home.
1895 Cent. Mag. Aug. 626/1 I have known of one horse that while hitched to a stake-and-ridered fence would jump the fence without unhitching himself.
3. To detach or unfasten (a thing).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > detach [verb (transitive)]
undoc1275
unwork1548
ungluea1617
unhinge1655
disattach1658
disengage1662
untacka1677
unglutinate1683
detach1686
unshackle1694
unship1793
unhitch1876
1876 G. J. Whyte-Melville Katerfelto xxviii. 315 He un~hitched his bridle from the garden palings.
1891 V. C. Cotes Two Girls on Barge 27 With silent alacrity I unhitched the lamp.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 24 Oct. 7/3 A detachment of the men unhitched the long ladders.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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