bronco
[brong-koh]
- a range pony or mustang of the western U.S., especially one that is not broken or is imperfectly broken.
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Origin of bronco
1865–70, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish, short for Spanish potro bronco untamed colt (in Mexican Spanish: wild horse, half-tamed horse); bronco, apparently nasalized variant of Latin broccus; see broach
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
bronco, colt, mare, stallion, filly, herdsman, rancher, wrangler, vaquero, gaucho, drover, buckaroo, cowpuncher, cowpoke, cattleman, stockman, cowhand, plug, pony, nagExamples from the Web for bronco
Contemporary Examples
The 20 years since then have been kinder to that Bronco than to Broncos in general.
Fortunately, the record-setting Bronco offense did its part to set yet another record.
Historical Examples
He did not know what that something was; but the bronco added to his suspicions by its behavior.
When the West Was YoungFrederick R. Bechdolt
The bronco stock was bad enough but the green mules were the worst.
When the West Was YoungFrederick R. Bechdolt
One such day, if the sheepmen were prepared, and Bronco Mesa would be a desert.
Hidden WaterDane Coolidge
The boy was beginning to ride the shoulders like a bronco buster.
Martian V.F.W.G.L. Vandenburg
The young man rode fast, putting his bronco at the hills with a rush.
Oh, You Tex!William Macleod Raine
bronco
broncho
- (in the US and Canada) a wild or partially tamed pony or mustang of the western plains
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Word Origin
C19: from Mexican Spanish, short for Spanish potro bronco unbroken colt, probably from Latin broccus projecting (as knots on wood), hence, rough, wild
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for bronco
n.
also broncho, 1850, American English, "untamed or half-tamed horse," from noun use of Spanish bronco (adj.) "rough, rude," originally a noun meaning "a knot in wood," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *bruncus "a knot, projection," apparently from a cross of Latin broccus "projecting" (see broach (n.)) + truncus "trunk of a tree" (see trunk (n.)). Bronco-buster is attested from 1886.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper