colt

¹ American  

[kohlt] / koʊlt /

noun

1. a young male animal of the horse family.

2. a male horse of not more than four years of age.

3. a young or inexperienced person.

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Colt ² American  

[kohlt] / koʊlt /

Trademark.

1. a brand of revolver.

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Colt ³ American  

[kohlt] / koʊlt /

noun

1. Samuel, 1814–62, U.S. inventor of the Colt revolver.

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colt ¹ British  

/ kəʊlt /

noun

1. a male horse or pony under the age of four

2. an awkward or inexperienced young person

3. sport

   1. a young and inexperienced player

   2. a member of a junior team

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Colt ² British  

/ kəʊlt /

noun

1. a type of revolver, pistol, etc

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Etymology

Origin of colt

before 1000; Middle English, Old English; compare dialectal Swedish kult little pig

Explanation

A colt is a male horse that's younger than four years old. When your colt is older than four, you can call him a stallion, gelding, or simply a horse. There are many terms for horses, depending what age they are and whether they're male or female. While colt can only refer to a young male, and a female of a similar age would be called a filly, you can talk about a horse of either sex that's between one and two years old as a yearling. The word colt comes directly from Old English, and it originally meant "young ass," or "young camel."

Example Sentences

Baffert said Potente would start once more before the Derby; one possibility is the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4, a race in which another Baffert colt, Cherokee Nation, is expected to run.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

A decision has not been made if the colt will return to racing next year or be retired to stallion duty.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

“He told me I should try and get in on a colt and get in on the Derby dream,” Werth said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

Because for Hunter, the fixes are the fun part of challenges — whether it’s mending a missed block, pumping out another squat or winning the trust of a restless colt.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

It was no fluke: in another clandestine workout not long after, the colt would tie a thirty-year-old world record for seven eighths of a mile, running it in 1:22.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• filly