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

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

There, on a flat-topped terrace-like spur where the last outspan was, we took breath, halved our loads, double-spanned, and pulled ourselves together for the last big climb.

From Jock of the Bushveld by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick

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

It was just like him to remember these things, for in our routine there was as a rule no eating during the night outspan.

From The Outspan Tales of South Africa by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick

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

They lent a hand, and when the team was outspanned and haltered to the disselboom inside a hastily improvised laager, they repaired to the house, carrying provisions with them.

From Grit Lawless by F.E. Mills Young

We were outspanned, and quite at our ease, when a report came that the enemy was advancing from Wit Kop.

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 last, with a whoop and a yell and a groan, it was hoisted out of its oozy prison and drawn onto the veldt, when the oxen were outspanned and breakfast was eaten.

From Yankee Girls in Zulu Land by Louise Vescelius-Sheldon

And so, very reluctantly on my part, we made our way back to the waggons, which had been standing for weeks outspanned on the southern bank of the river, in charge of our men.

From From Veldt Camp Fires by H.A. Bryden

In all these weeks I haven’t seen a soul besides yourselves, except for a party of prospectors who outspanned one night.”

From Grit Lawless by F.E. Mills Young

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

This done, he once more changed the wet handkerchiefs, and went out to find Jack outspanning the cattle, and talking in a loud voice to his wife.

From Diamond Dyke The Lone Farm on the Veldt - Story of South African Adventure by W. Boucher

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

This, then, we did, outspanning that evening by the hot but beautiful river which was still haunted by a few hippopotamus and many crocodiles, one of which we shot before turning in.

From Finished by Henry Rider Haggard

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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