Definition

Noun: 1. A small, hardy, free-roaming horse of the North American plains: A mustang is a feral horse, particularly one found in the western United States, descended from horses originally brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers and colonists. It is known for its endurance, strength, and ability to survive in harsh, open environments.

Usage

The word "mustang" is used to refer specifically to these wild or feral horses. It is a countable noun.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Mustang" as a symbol: The mustang is often used as a symbol of freedom, independence, and the American West.
  • The mustang has become an icon of untamed wilderness.

Variants and Related Words

• Mustanger (noun, historical): A person who captured wild mustangs.
• Bronco (noun): While often used interchangeably in casual speech, "bronco" typically refers to an untamed or half-tamed horse, not necessarily a mustang. A mustang is a specific type of feral horse, while a bronco is a description of its behavior.

Synonyms

• Feral horse
• Range horse (specifically for the North American context)
• Wild horse (Note: In a strict biological context, the mustang is a feral, not a wild, species, as its ancestors were domesticated.)

Idioms and Phrases

• "Like a mustang": Used to describe someone or something that is wild, free-spirited, and difficult to restrain.
  • Her independent spirit was like a mustang, impossible to tame.

Noun

1. small hardy range horse of the western plains descended from horses brought by the Spanish