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:
I’ll inspan my donkeys and we’ll draw him up in the cart.”
From Between Sun and Sand A Tale of an African Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully
Why shouldn’t we inspan and go back with them, Ned?
From The Fire Trumpet A Romance of the Cape Frontier by Bertram Mitford
At dawn next morning we were not sorry to inspan and trek; and, following the old wagon-spoor, we pushed on, determined if possible to get to the bottom of the affair.
From Tales of South Africa by H.A. Bryden
I told him to inspan and not talk so much, and moved round to the other side of the waggon.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
An hour afterwards, when his wounds had been looked to, the order was given to inspan.
From The Golden Rock by Ernest Glanville
Mrs Bester, assisted by her old father, inspanned four horses in the cart and drove on behind the trackers.
From Between Sun and Sand A Tale of an African Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully
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
The horses were at once inspanned, and the cart taken by a roundabout course to the vicinity of where it was lying.
From Between Sun and Sand A Tale of an African Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully
The oxen were inspanned accordingly, there being just daylight enough for the purpose.
From Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand by H.C. Adams
This hope consoled Groot Willem, as he mounted his huge horse, and rode after the wagons that were already inspanned and treking down the valley.
From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Mayne Reid
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 Bertram Mitford
“Rum go, our meeting again, like this,” he said to Lawless, while they stood in the sunshine together and watched the others inspanning the mules.
From Grit Lawless by F.E. Mills Young
For miles and miles men were quickly at work sinking holes into the ground; camp-fires were flaming; teamsters were inspanning and outspanning their oxen, and wagons were creaking.
From Wealth of the World's Waste Places and Oceania by Jewett Castello Gilson
It was early morning as I have said, and we were in the act of inspanning.
From A Frontier Mystery by Bertram Mitford
Their rapidity in inspanning is marvellous; all the cattle may be scattered about grazing, but in five minutes from the word "Trek!" they are inspanned and ready.
From In the Ranks of the C.I.V. by Erskine Childers
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