Definition

Noun: 1. The flesh of a horse used as food: This refers to horse meat intended for human consumption. 2. Horses collectively, especially when considered for their quality or characteristics: This meaning refers to horses as a group, often in the context of judging their type, breed, or overall merit.

Usage Examples

• As food:

  • In some cultures, horseflesh is considered a traditional delicacy.
  • The sale of horseflesh for human consumption is regulated in many countries.

• Referring to horses collectively:

  • He has an eye for good horseflesh and owns several thoroughbreds.
  • The auction was a showcase of the finest horseflesh in the region.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a somewhat archaic or specialized context, particularly in the phrase "a judge of horseflesh," which describes someone knowledgeable about horses and their quality.
  • The old rancher was known as an excellent judge of horseflesh.

Variants and Related Words

• Horsemeat (n): A more direct and modern synonym specifically for the flesh of a horse used as food.
  • The supermarket faced controversy for selling horsemeat.

Synonyms

• Horsemeat: (Specifically for the food sense)
• Equine: (Pertaining to horses; used as an adjective, not a direct noun substitute)
• Steeds, mounts: (For the collective sense, though these are more poetic)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary contemporary use of "horseflesh" is in the idiomatic expression related to judging horses. Its use to refer literally to meat is less common in everyday English and can be considered dated or used in specific cultural or regulatory contexts.
• The term inherently carries the dual meaning of both the animal product (meat) and the living animals themselves, with context determining the interpretation.

Noun

1. the flesh of horses as food