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 gave orders at once to inspan, returning a curt negative to Magebe’s inquiries as to whether I would not stop and trade.
From A Frontier Mystery by Mitford, Bertram
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.
Now we’d better make coffee, and be all ready to inspan as soon as the mist lifts.”
From The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley by Mitford, Bertram
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 Scully, W. C. (William Charles)
Dawes was about to give orders to inspan, when there burst forth from around the spur of the hill a most horrible and startling tumult.
From The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley by Mitford, Bertram
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
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
We inspanned at sunset, and plunged straight into the desert, travelling slightly to the south of east.
From Lodges in the Wilderness by Scully, W. C. (William Charles)
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)
The horses were not saddled nor the wagons inspanned till after dusk.
From Two Years on Trek Being Some Account of the Royal Sussex Regiment in South Africa by Moulin, Louis Eug?ne du
At first we did not believe this, but soon it proved to be true enough, and then there was again a hurried inspanning.
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)
The horses appeared with the driver, and the business of inspanning began.
From The Stronger Influence by Young, F.E. Mills
"I shall know I must not leave any in the wagon another time," said the mistress; and we scrambled into our places to be out of the way while the work of inspanning went on.
From The Empire Annual for Girls, 1911 by Buckland, A. R. (Augustus Robert)
Thereafter came the outspanning, with the identical accompaniments of the inspanning.
From Poppy The Story of a South African Girl by Stockley, Cynthia
There was a long journey ahead of us, so we only remained during the time that was occupied in outspanning the tired mules and inspanning the fresh lot.
From Argentina from a British Point of View by Various
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.
