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dehorn

[dee-hawrn]
See more synonyms for dehorn on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to remove the horns of (cattle).
  2. to prevent the formation or growth of horns in (cattle), as by cauterization.
  3. Horticulture. to prune (a tree, shrub, etc.) by shortening major branches to an extreme degree.
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Origin of dehorn

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; de- + horn
Related formsde·horn·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dehorn

Historical Examples

  • I believe, too, you will find it an economy to dehorn these calves at branding time.

    Florida: An Ideal Cattle State

    Florida State Live Stock Association

  • First time pa heard 'm he says when he come home, 'That choir 'll never succeed till they dehorn Alvy,' he says.

  • Before attempting to dehorn the animal, it should be securely controlled by ropes in a stanchion or by casting.

    Special Report on Diseases of Cattle

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

  • Mr. Kellogg: Isn't it better to dehorn it and get some new shoots to graft?

British Dictionary definitions for dehorn

dehorn

verb (tr)
  1. to remove or prevent the growth of the horns of (cattle, sheep, or goats)
  2. to cut back (the larger limbs of a tree) drastically
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Derived Formsdehorner, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012