inspan
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to harness (animals) to (a vehicle); yoke
-
to press (people) into service
Etymology
Origin of inspan
From Afrikaans, dating back to 1825–35; see origin at in- 1, span 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then in the most matter-of-fact way, John Dawes gave orders to inspan.
From The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley by Mitford, Bertram
Our camp at the top of the hill was about three miles from Mbabane, and I ordered Sibijaan to inspan and start on again at five o'clock.
From Adventures in Swaziland The Story of a South African Boer by O'Neil, Owen Rowe
I gave directions that the messenger and his men should be fed, and then had Sibijaan inspan the six mules and prepare the wagonette for the trip.
From Adventures in Swaziland The Story of a South African Boer by O'Neil, Owen Rowe
I told him to inspan and not talk so much, and moved round to the other side of the waggon.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Fitzpatrick, Percy, Sir
Why shouldn’t we inspan and go back with them, Ned?
From The Fire Trumpet A Romance of the Cape Frontier by Mitford, Bertram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
