horseback

[hawrs-bak]

See more synonyms for horseback on Thesaurus.com

noun

the back of a horse.
Geology. a low, natural ridge of sand or gravel; an esker.Compare hogback.

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adverb

on horseback: to ride horseback.

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adjective

made or given in a casual or speculative way; approximate or offhand: a horseback estimate on the construction costs.

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Origin of horseback

1350–1400; Middle English. See horse, back¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for horseback

Contemporary Examples

The brand logo turned out to feature a graceful archer on horseback, in a Tatar national costume, poised to shoot his arrow.
Rebranding The Land of Mongol Warriors & Ivan The Terrible
Anna Nemtsova
December 25, 2014
This music video is an ode to his one true love, complete with romantic rides on horseback.
Swimming Owls, Jane Krakowski’s Peter Pan Live! Audition, and More Viral Videos
The Daily Beast Video
December 7, 2014
Instead of statues of generals, we put up monuments to ordinary soldiers, lists of names rather than men on horseback.
Why Some Americans Are More Equal Than Others
Jedediah Purdy
September 2, 2014
Two wranglers on horseback chased 20 bulls from a holding pen.
Chicago’s Running of the Bulls
Hampton Stevens
July 26, 2014
Through the years he became just as adept at politics as he was on horseback.
The Cowboy Sheriff of Las Vegas Rides Into ‘Mob Museum’
John L. Smith
June 8, 2014

Historical Examples

Next day he called at the gate, on horseback, to inquire for mistress.
To be Read at Dusk
Charles Dickens
He was surprised to see Stoliker on horseback in front of one of the taverns.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
And is not the whole land like a beggar on horseback riding post to the Davil?
Old News
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Then, as for active exercises, she could ride on horseback as well as any man in her kingdom.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
It was a fellow-creature on horseback, dressed in the absurdest manner.
The Uncommercial Traveller
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for horseback

horseback

noun

1. a horse's back (esp in the phrase on horseback)
2. (as modifier)horseback riding

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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

Word Origin and History for horseback

late 14c., from horse (n.) + back (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper