unhorsev.

Brit.

/(ˌ)ʌnˈhɔːs/, U.S.

/ˌənˈhɔrs/

Etymology: un- prefix² 1a. Compare Middle Dutch ontorsen.

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. 39^v 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.

†2.

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