outspan
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
noun
-
an area on a farm kept available for travellers to rest and refresh animals
-
the act of unharnessing or unyoking
verb
-
(tr) to unharness or unyoke (animals)
-
(intr) to relax
Etymology
Origin of outspan
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:
The place was a well-known and much-frequented public outspan, and a fair-sized wayside store marked its importance.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
About sundown, just before we were ready to start, some other waggons passed, and Ted, knowing the owner, went on with him intending to rejoin us at the next outspan.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
Being on my way to Brother Sarel’s I thought I would outspan here and get some medicine.”
From A Vendetta of the Desert by W. C. (William Charles) Scully
When the boys would outspan and get things in readiness for meals, our hunger from the open-air life would be so great that we could scarcely wait while they made the fire for coffee.
From Yankee Girls in Zulu Land by Louise Vescelius-Sheldon
A delay occurred at a ford, and it was half-past three in the morning before we arrived at the outspan, which the foremost waggons had reached at twelve o'clock.
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
On the way to Lydenburg, not many treks from Paradise Camp, we were outspanned for the day.
From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
On November 10, 1883, we crossed Little Sunday’s River and outspanned at the foot of Knight’s Cutting.
From The Outspan Tales of South Africa by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
At noon we outspanned for almuerzo beneath a cork-oak, the weather and the scene alike lovely beyond words.
From Wild Spain (Espa?a agreste) Records of Sport with Rifle, Rod, and Gun, Natural History Exploration by Walter J. Buck
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
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 while they had been outspanning, and now, handing over the horses to a native stable-boy, they entered.
From Harley Greenoak's Charge by Bertram Mitford
Thereafter came the outspanning, with the identical accompaniments of the inspanning.
From Poppy The Story of a South African Girl by Cynthia Stockley
Confident it would soon be at its normal level, they did not think of outspanning.
From The Vee-Boers A Tale of Adventure in Southern Africa by Mayne Reid
Give him a cool chair on the stoep, and a ditto drink, while I go and see to the outspanning, and to things in general.
From A Veldt Vendetta by Bertram Mitford
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
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.
