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.
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
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.
Why shouldn’t we inspan and go back with them, Ned?
From The Fire Trumpet A Romance of the Cape Frontier by Mitford, Bertram
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
An hour afterwards, when his wounds had been looked to, the order was given to inspan.
From The Golden Rock by Glanville, Ernest
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.
