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.
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
Go and help Patrick to inspan, and let us be off as quickly as possible.”
From The War of the Axe Adventures in South Africa by Percy-Groves, J.
We inspan at daybreak to-morrow, and I hope to be at D’Urban by Tuesday week.
From The War of the Axe Adventures in South Africa by Percy-Groves, J.
Two days' trek from Pretoria she was missed at inspan time.
From Poppy The Story of a South African Girl by Stockley, Cynthia
Hither, having bidden good-bye to the Suffields, without waiting to see them inspan, he adjourned, and, in company with a solitary pipe, fell into a train of thought.
From A Veldt Official A Novel of Circumstance 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.
