steeplechase

stee·ple·chase

noun \-ˌchās\

Definition of STEEPLECHASE

1

a : a horse race across country

b : a horse race over a closed course with obstacles (as hedges and walls)

2

: a footrace of usually 3000 meters over hurdles and a water jump

— stee·ple·chas·er \-ˌchā-sər\ noun

— stee·ple·chas·ing \-siŋ\ noun

Origin of STEEPLECHASE

from the use of church steeples as landmarks to guide the riders

First Known Use: 1793

Rhymes with STEEPLECHASE

about-face, aerospace, anyplace, boniface, bouillabaisse, carapace, catalase, cellulase, commonplace, contrabass, cyberspace, database, diabase, diastase, double-space, elastase, everyplace, hydrolase, hydrospace, hyperspace, interface, interlace, interspace, invertase, kilobase, lemures, lowercase, marketplace, oxidase, pillowcase, reductase, Samothrace, single-space, thoroughbass, thoroughbrace, triple-space, uppercase

steeplechase

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Either of two distinct sporting events: (1) a horse race over a closed course with obstacles, including hedges and walls; or (2) a footrace of 3,000 m over hurdles and a water jump. The name derives from impromptu races by fox hunters in 18th-century Ireland over natural country in which church steeples served as course landmarks. Equestrian steeplechase is popular in England, France, and Ireland, and to a lesser extent in the U.S. The most famous equestrian steeplechase is the Grand National. Track-and-field steeplechase dates back to a cross-country race at the University of Oxford in 1850. The course and distance were standardized at the 1920 Olympic Games.