mustang

[ muhs-tang ]

noun

1. a small, hardy horse of the American plains, descended from Spanish stock.
2. U.S. Navy Slang. a naval officer who received his commission while still an enlisted man.

verb (used without object)

1. to round up wild horses, especially in order to sell them illegally to slaughterhouses.

mustang

/ ˈmʌstæŋ /

noun

1. a small breed of horse, often wild or half wild, found in the southwestern US

Word History and Origins

Origin of mustang¹

1800–10, Americanism; < Spanish mestengo stray or ownerless beast, noun use of masculine adj.: pertaining to a mixed lot of beasts, equivalent to mest ( a ) such a mixed lot (< Latin ( animālia ) mixta mixed (beasts), neuter plural adj., taken as feminine singular noun; mixed ) + -engo adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of mustang¹

C19: from Mexican Spanish mestengo, from mesta a group of stray animals

Example Sentences

Inside, a 12-inch portrait touch screen mimics the premium feel of the Mustang Mach-E, offering the latest version of Ford’s Sync 4A software.

From Popular-Science

They wiped out the last of the elk, antelope, and mustang and emptied the sky of geese.

From MIT Technology Review

Cold weather driving in the Mustang Mach-ETesting the Mach-E this winter gave us the chance to see this electric horse in its least-suited situation.

From Popular-Science

You can put mag wheels on a Gremlin,” commented one long time Michigan observer, “but that doesn't make it a Mustang.

From The Daily Beast

Hundreds of trekkers were on the popular Annapurna Circuit in the Mustang area of Nepal when disaster struck last week.

From The Daily Beast

Mmmhops is a tasty pale ale created in partnership with Mustang Brewing.

From The Daily Beast

He had the distinction of becoming a “mustang,” a Marine enlisted man elevated to officer.

From The Daily Beast

Suddenly the Merlin-powered Mustang, as it was called, required far less fuel than any other fighter and outperformed them all.

From The Daily Beast

Her little mustang leaped them, however, with wonderful activity, and mine followed.

From Project Gutenberg

There was the speed of the blooded racer in her and the tirelessness of the mustang.

From Project Gutenberg

She hurried on, and upon entering the courtyard she espied Roy Beeman holding the halter of a beautiful, wild-looking mustang.

From Project Gutenberg

He picked up the halter on the blue mustang and turned away toward the corrals.

From Project Gutenberg

So it came about as naturally as it was wonderful that Bo rode the blue mustang before the afternoon ended.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• colt
• filly
• mare
• stallion