pair-horse
Definition
Adjective: - Drawn or operated by two horses: "pair-horse" describes a vehicle, such as a carriage or cart, that is designed to be pulled by a team of two horses harnessed together side by side.
Usage Examples
- (A carriage drawn by two horses.)
- (A wagon designed for two horses.)
Advanced Usage
- "pair-horse" is an attributive adjective, meaning it is used directly before a noun (e.g., "pair-horse carriage") and does not have comparative or superlative forms.
- It is a compound adjective that is now somewhat archaic or specialized, typically found in historical or equestrian contexts.
Variants and Related Words
Pair-horse (n): a horse that is part of a pair used for pulling a vehicle.
- Each pair-horse was carefully matched in size and strength. (One of the two horses in a team.)
Pair-horse team (n): a set of two horses used together for pulling.
- The pair-horse team trotted briskly down the lane. (Two horses working in tandem.)
Synonyms
- Two-horse: drawn by two horses (e.g., a two-horse carriage).
- Double-harness: relating to a harness system for two horses.
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms directly using "pair-horse," but the concept appears in the idiom "put the cart before the horse", which means to do things in the wrong order.
- They bought the carriage before buying the horses — they put the cart before the horse. (They reversed the proper sequence.)