inspan
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to harness (animals) to (a vehicle); yoke
-
to press (people) into service
Etymology
Origin of inspan
From Afrikaans, dating back to 1825–35; see origin at in- 1, span 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But it was now time to inspan; for the first time since they had last drunk the oxen were really suffering from thirst.
From Lodges in the Wilderness by Scully, W. C. (William Charles)
Our camp at the top of the hill was about three miles from Mbabane, and I ordered Sibijaan to inspan and start on again at five o'clock.
From Adventures in Swaziland The Story of a South African Boer by O'Neil, Owen Rowe
If Ndala is not content, tell him I’ll inspan the waggon again and trek out of his country and go into some other veldt, where elephants are at least as plentiful and chiefs more accommodating.”
From From Veldt Camp Fires by Bryden, H.A.
Stephanus always let them rest in the heat of the day; in the evening he would inspan and then push on through the cool hours of the night.
From A Vendetta of the Desert by Scully, W. C. (William Charles)
Well, we’ll get back to Pagel’s and have tea, and then it’ll be time to inspan.
From Harley Greenoak's Charge by Mitford, Bertram
With the greatest speed we saddled and inspanned and very quickly the laager hurried on, whilst the burghers took up positions to hold back the enemy until the waggons and carts were out of danger.
From Through Shot and Flame The Adventures and Experiences of J. D. Kestell Chaplain to President Steyn and General Christian De Wet by Kestell, J. D. (John Daniel)
But nothing that had happened revealed the vicious ingrained obstinacy of the animal’s nature so clearly as the last act in the struggle: it stood passive, and apparently beaten, while the boys inspanned it again.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Fitzpatrick, Percy, Sir
Shortly before sundown we inspanned and made a start, shaping our course north-east.
From Lodges in the Wilderness by Scully, W. C. (William Charles)
Next morning our party inspanned and treked over the desert plain in a north-easterly direction.
From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Reid, Mayne
The men hurriedly inspanned and urged us into the shelter of the waggons, then started to walk ahead in silent, gloomy groups.
From The Claw by Stockley, Cynthia
The truth was that I could not get that story about the glow of fires out of my mind and was anxious to push on, which had caused me to hurry up the inspanning.
From She and Allan by Haggard, Henry Rider
Having covered the carcass well over with branches to protect it from the vultures, I returned to camp, and, inspanning my wagons, took it up on the march.
From Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea by Brayman, James O.
The next morning the safari filed out from the camp, the Masai greeting the inspanning with huge delight.
From The Rogue Elephant The Boys' Big Game Series by Arting, Fred J.
But inspanning a pair of horses was, to his experienced hand, the work of a very few minutes indeed.
From 'Tween Snow and Fire A Tale of the Last Kafir War by Mitford, Bertram
By the time the inspanning was complete, and good-byes were in progress, Percival was on the scene with his horse saddled up and ready.
From The Triumph of Hilary Blachland by Mitford, Bertram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
