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 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
Then orders were given to inspan and the trek was resumed.
From The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley by Bertram Mitford
Just as they were about to inspan the oxen in the morning some fifteen or twenty men were seen approaching at a gallop.
From The Young Colonists A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars by G.A. Henty
He could inspan and outspan oxen, and was already master of other useful veldt wrinkles, which usually take some time to acquire.
From From Veldt Camp Fires by H.A. Bryden
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
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
We inspanned at sunset, and plunged straight into the desert, travelling slightly to the south of east.
From Lodges in the Wilderness by W. C. (William Charles) Scully
In the Bushveld the oxen were invariably tied up at night, picketed to the trek-chain, each pair at its yoke ready to be inspanned for the early morning trek.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
“In an hour’s time I shall want the horses inspanned, John.”
From Grit Lawless by F.E. Mills Young
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 J. D. (John Daniel) Kestell
Then the inspanning, the yoking up of the oxen again, and the start once more.
From Diamond Dyke The Lone Farm on the Veldt - Story of South African Adventure by W. Boucher
It was early morning as I have said, and we were in the act of inspanning.
From A Frontier Mystery by Bertram Mitford
The truth was that I could not get that story about the glow of fires out of my mind and was anxious to push on, which had caused me to hurry up the inspanning.
From She and Allan by Henry Rider Haggard
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
The horses appeared with the driver, and the business of inspanning began.
From The Stronger Influence by F.E. Mills Young
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.
