quarter horse

quarter horse

noun

Definition of QUARTER HORSE

: any of a breed of compact muscular saddle horses developed in the United States and characterized by great endurance and by high speed for short distances

Illustration of QUARTER HORSE

Origin of QUARTER HORSE

from its high speed for distances up to a quarter of a mile

First Known Use: 1834

Rhymes with QUARTER HORSE

charley horse, Crazy Horse, cutting horse, harness horse, hobbyhorse, intercourse, minicourse, nonrecourse, outercourse, pommel horse, reinforce, rocking horse, saddle horse, telecourse, tour de force, Trojan horse, vaulting horse, watercourse

quarter horse

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Breed of light horse developed in the U.S. from Thoroughbred, Morgan, American saddlebred, and other stock as a quarter-mile racer. Though overshadowed by the Thoroughbred, it found a place in the western and southwestern U.S. as a stock horse (see cutting horse). Modern quarter horses are short and stocky, with a muscular build and a deep, broad chest. They are noted for fast starting, turning, and stopping ability, short-distance speed, and intelligence. They stand 14.3–16 hands (57–64 in., 145–163 cm) high, weigh 950–1,200 lbs (431–544 kg), and have a calm, cooperative temperament.