unhorsev.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈhɔːs/, U.S. /ˌənˈhɔrs/ 1.
a. transitive. To throw or drag (a person) from his horse, esp. in battle. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > keep one's seat on (a horse) > unseat, throw (the rider)
casta1300
unhorse1390
throwa1425
unsaddlea1470
unseat1596
dismounta1616
fall1688
to funk (a person) off1821
unship1831
dishorse1859
to buck off1881
shift1891
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > bring to the ground/lay low > specifically a person or animal > a person from or out of something > specifically from a horse
unhorse1390
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 368 He..smot him with a dethes wounde, That he unhorsed fell to grounde.
1412–20 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy iv. 2077 Menelay..to Troilus faste gan hym spede Fully avysed to vnhorsen hym anon.
1448–9 J. Metham Amoryus & Cleopes 933 Qwat ys he yon,..that thus fersly iustyth to-day; That no knyght hym onhors may?
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 768/1 I unhorse a man by feates of armes in the felde, Je rue jus.
1565 A. Golding tr. Caesar Martiall Exploytes in Gallia i. f. 39v If any of them were sore wounded or vnhorsed, theis garded him about.
1613 G. Chapman Reuenge Bussy D'Ambois iv. sig. G1 He turnd wilde lightning in the Lackies hands, Who, though their sodaine violent twitch vnhorst him.
1668 R. Steele Husbandmans Calling (1672) vi. 159 Neither wouldst thou be ridden at the Devil's pleasure if thou didst understand thyself: unhorse Satan quickly from off thy soul.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 295 Ireton..was unhorsed and taken Prisoner.
1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. I. 29 A large quantity of armour,..some for unhorsing an antagonist in a turnament.
1820 W. Scott Monastery II. x. 305 To me it is recommended, because it..unhorses the lazy monks that have ridden us so long, and spur-galled us so hard.
1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days II. vi. 91 And so you unhorsed the traitor, but could neither kill nor take him?
b. figurative. To dislodge, overthrow, discomfit, nonplus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm > completely or overthrow
shrenchc897
allayOE
fellOE
quellOE
to bring to the groundc1175
forlesec1200
to lay downa1225
acastc1225
accumberc1275
cumber1303
confoundc1330
overthrowc1375
cumrayc1425
overquell?c1450
overwhelvec1450
to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)?a1500
prostrate1531
quash1556
couch1577
unhorse1577
prosternate1593
overbeata1616
unchariot1715
floor1828
quench1841
to knock over1853
fling1889
to throw down1890
steamroller1912
wipe1972
zonk1973
1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Gvij The Duke of Guise and his partakers..without the policie of the Queene mother,..had at the same instant bene quite vnhorsed.
1602 J. Rhodes Answere Romish Rime sig. E So did all of Rome beside, Vntill they grew to their full pride; And were of late vnhorst agayne.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. lxxviii. 106 The trick of un~horsing people..by meer Words.
1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 280 The scruple..about his marriage became the occasion of unhorsing the Pope in England.
1825 W. Scott Talisman xiii, in Tales Crusaders IV. 285 Thou hast unhorsed me with that very word.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil II. iv. xi. 269 She did not deign even to notice the unhappy cavalier whom she had thus as it were unhorsed.
c. In passive: To be thrown from a horse.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > fall off
wendc1300
flit1430
unhorse1583
to be floored1826
to come (fall, get) a cropper1858
to come (also have) a buster1874
to come off1874
volunteer1890
to take a toss1917
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Xj v He that rides with one girth, may feare to be vnhorst.
a1713 T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 72 It if [sc. the knife] should have been found..under my coat when I came to be Unhorsed.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xii. 263 His horse..turning round suddenly ran off with his master, who..was very near being unhorsed in the surprize.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Unhorsed, thrown from the saddle; dismounted.
a. To help (one) to dismount. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > dismount from > cause or help to
lighta1400
unhorse1530
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 768/1 I unhorse a man, I sette hym bysyde his horse, je desmonte.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 768/1 Helpe to unhorse these ladyes.
b. intransitive. To dismount.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > dismount
lighteOE
alightOE
falla1300
avoid1485
demountc1540
elight1542
descend1548
avale1590
dismount1594
alighten1600
unlight1623
unhorse1633
unmount1655
to get off1688
1633 F. Quarles in P. Fletcher Purple Island sig. R4 I lasht through thick and thinne, Dispatch'd my businesse, and return'd agen; I call'd the second time; unhors'd, went in.
3. To deprive of a horse. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > deprive of a mount
unhorse1465
unmule1654
1465 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 294 But I trow to gyte Dorlet a-yen hys hors or els Maister Phylyp ys lyke to be vn-horssyd ons, and we lyve all.
1651 in Crawford Proclam. (1910) II. 58 All tories not joining the army within 14 days to be unhorsed and counted traitors.
1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville xii A whip and a rope were left..by the robbers, as a taunt to the simpletons they had unhorsed.
4. To unharness the horses from (a carriage, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [verb (transitive)] > harness or yoke > unharness
unspang1580
unharness1611
unspan1648
unhorse1654
outspan1815
unyoke1821
1654 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. Bentivoglio Compl. Hist. Warrs Flanders 385 Coming to their Batteries they unhorst some of their Peeces.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 701 Others..unhorse The gilded equipage,..turning loose His steeds.
1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula vi. iii The artillery was unhorsed.
Derivatives
unˈhorsement n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > [noun]
fallOE
confusionc1290
discomfiturea1400
castc1400
overthrowc1440
confoundinga1450
jeofail1546
prostitution1567
lurch1584
worsting1607
unhorsing1608
supplantation1617
defeat1676
overset1789
punishment1811
overthrowal1862
beating1883
unhorsement1884
whoop-ass1974
1884 H. D. Traill New Lucian 52 It was a moral un~horsement of the most dishonouring kind.
unˈhorsing n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > [noun]
fallOE
confusionc1290
discomfiturea1400
castc1400
overthrowc1440
confoundinga1450
jeofail1546
prostitution1567
lurch1584
worsting1607
unhorsing1608
supplantation1617
defeat1676
overset1789
punishment1811
overthrowal1862
beating1883
unhorsement1884
whoop-ass1974
1608 Bp. J. Hall Pharisaisme & Christianity 55 If you euer therefore look to see..the vnhorseing and confusion of that strumpet of Rome.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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