cock-horse

A child rides a cock-horse to Banbury Cross.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A child's toy horse: "cock-horse" refers to a toy horse, typically made of wood, that a child can sit on and pretend to ride. This is an archaic or historical term.
   • A hobbyhorse: In a broader sense, it can mean a stick with a horse's head, used by children in a similar way.

2. Adverb:

   • Astride: "cock-horse" can be used as an adverb meaning "in a riding position," especially when a child is sitting on something as if riding a horse.

     • Example: The boy sat cock-horse on his father's knee. (The boy sat astride his father's knee, pretending to ride.)

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The child played with his cock-horse in the nursery. (The child played with his wooden toy horse in the nursery.)
  • In old stories, children often rode a cock-horse made from a broomstick. (In old stories, children often used a broomstick as a toy horse.)

• Adverb:

  • She rode cock-horse on the garden fence. (She sat astride the garden fence as if riding a horse.)

Advanced Usage

• "to ride a cock-horse": to engage in the act of playing with a toy horse or sitting astride something.

  • The children rode a cock-horse around the yard. (The children played with a toy horse or sat astride a pretend horse.)

• "cock-horse" in nursery rhymes: The term is famously used in the nursery rhyme "Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross."

  • "Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, to see a fine lady upon a white horse." (A traditional English rhyme using the term to mean a toy horse.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hobbyhorse (n): a toy horse, often a stick with a horse's head; also means a favorite topic or obsession.

  • The hobbyhorse was a popular toy in the 19th century. (The toy horse was popular in the 19th century.)

• Cockhorse (n, alternative spelling): a less common variant of "cock-horse."

  • He made a cockhorse from a wooden stick. (He made a toy horse from a wooden stick.)

Synonyms

• Hobbyhorse: a child's toy horse.
• Rocking horse: a toy horse mounted on rockers, for children to ride.
• Toy horse: a general term for a horse-shaped toy.

Related Idioms

• Ride a cock-horse: to pretend to ride a horse, especially in children's play.

  • The toddler loved to ride a cock-horse on his grandfather's foot. (The toddler loved to pretend to ride a horse on his grandfather's foot.)

• On one's high horse: an idiom meaning to act arrogantly (unrelated to the toy, but shares the horse theme).

  • Don't get on your high horse about it. (Don't act superior or offended.)

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly associated with "cock-horse," as it is a noun/adverb rather than a verb. However, related phrasal verbs from "ride" include:
  • Ride out: to endure a difficult situation.

    • They rode out the storm. (They endured the storm.)