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:
Thus she went to and fro for the quarter of an hour it took us to inspan, and each time she passed we could hear a faint anxious little whine.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
The laager had now to inspan hurriedly and trek, while a number of burghers hastened away in the direction of the town to oppose the English should they advance.
From Through Shot and Flame The Adventures and Experiences of J. D. Kestell Chaplain to President Steyn and General Christian De Wet by J. D. (John Daniel) Kestell
That worthy merely nodded, with a word of greeting, and having seen their luggage safely stowed among the bales and cases which, piled sky-high, constituted his cargo, gave orders to inspan.
From The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley by Bertram Mitford
But of this valiant offer John Dawes, who was giving orders to inspan, took no immediate notice.
From The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley by Bertram Mitford
Why shouldn’t we inspan and go back with them, Ned?
From The Fire Trumpet A Romance of the Cape Frontier by Bertram Mitford
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 Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
It was then that the man opened his eyes and faintly shook his head; so they inspanned as best they could and made another trek.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
We inspanned, and one white man came along.
From The Golden Rock by Ernest Glanville
Within six hours of his arrival at the kraal he had inspanned his oxen and trekked away north into the heart of the Kalahari.
From From Veldt Camp Fires by H.A. Bryden
The oxen were inspanned, the mules also, and about noon we started off on our trek for Zombode.
From Adventures in Swaziland The Story of a South African Boer by Owen Rowe O'Neil
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 Bertram Mitford
Thereafter came the outspanning, with the identical accompaniments of the inspanning.
From Poppy The Story of a South African Girl by Cynthia Stockley
Eanswyth had gone into the house to put a few things together, having, with an effort, overcome her reluctance to let him out of her sight during the few minutes required for inspanning.
From 'Tween Snow and Fire A Tale of the Last Kafir War by Bertram Mitford
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 James O. Brayman
The loading of the waggons was simple enough, but when it came to inspanning it was another matter.
From Three Years' War by Christiaan Rudolf De Wet
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