outspan

American  

[aut-span, aut-span] / ˌaʊtˈspæn, ˈaʊtˌspæn /

verb (used with object)

outspanned, outspanning

1. to unyoke or unhitch, as oxen from a wagon.

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verb (used without object)

outspanned, outspanning

1. to remove the yoke, harness, etc., from animals.

noun

1. the act or a place of outspanning.

outspan British  

noun

1. an area on a farm kept available for travellers to rest and refresh animals

2. the act of unharnessing or unyoking

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verb

1. (tr) to unharness or unyoke (animals)

2. (intr) to relax

Etymology

Origin of outspan

1815–25; translation of Afrikaans uitspan; see out-, span ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outspan outspanned outspanning

She likes me to look round for a chat if I am ever in Marico, and so, for old acquaintance sake, I usually outspan for a day if I am anywhere near Water Kloof.

From From Veldt Camp Fires by H.A. Bryden

At the outspan they stood about exhausted and panting, with rings and lines of brown marking where the moisture from nostrils, eyes and mouths had caught the dust and turned it into mud.

From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick

Gertrude and Helena accompanied their friend as far as the first outspan place, where a farewell libation of coffee was poured out from tin pannikins.

From A Vendetta of the Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully

“Oh, do let us outspan in the veldt,” answered Lilian, gleefully.

From The Fire Trumpet A Romance of the Cape Frontier by Bertram Mitford

These four being therefore ready, having already brought in and kraaled the goats for the night, they assisted the Englishman to outspan his oxen and unload the waggons.

From From Veldt Camp Fires by H.A. Bryden

As they grew older and were able to crawl about they were taken off the waggons when we outspanned and put on the ground.

From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick

The oxen were outspanned, and turned out to graze on the veldt, care being taken to prevent their straying.

From Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand by H.C. Adams

The wagons had outspanned on the mountain slope, not far below the du Plessis’ dwelling.

From A Vendetta of the Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully

In the evening we outspanned on the farm of Petrus Schoeman and halted for the night, expecting to hear from General de Wet every moment.

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

At nightfall, more dead than alive, we outspanned beneath the loom of a gigantic mountain range, whose recesses we were to pierce on the following morning.

From From Veldt Camp Fires by H.A. Bryden

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

They had forty odd miles to cover, but the guides, or rather the guard, would only consent to their outspanning once, which they did on the open veldt a little before sunset.

From Jess by Henry Rider Haggard

"We'll need those traps here, I guess," declared Charlie when the outspanning was going on.

From The Rogue Elephant The Boys' Big Game Series by Fred J. Arting

After going some miles, I was pleased to see the waggons turning off the slippery track on to the veldt and outspanning.

From A Yeoman's Letters Third Edition by P. T. Ross

We soon had the good things we had brought with us transferred from the cart to a grassy knoll, and our charioteer outspanning and knee-haltering the horses, let them wander away and graze.

From Yankee Girls in Zulu Land by Louise Vescelius-Sheldon

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