quarter horse

noun

1. one of a breed of strong horses developed in the U.S. for short-distance races, usually a quarter of a mile.
2. a horse of this breed used in herding livestock.

quarter horse

noun

1. a small powerful breed of horse, originally bred for sprinting in quarter-mile races in Virginia in the late 18th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of quarter horse¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

I grew up in a little border town, Nogales, Arizona, quarter horses, and it’s amazing to stand up here.

From Washington Post