quarter horse

noun

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

Illustration of quarter horse

Examples of quarter horse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The American quarter horse is one of the most popular breeds in the world, known for its speed, according to the American Quarter Horse Association’s website. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025

Rodeo horses died after attack The three were all American quarter horses, nine-year-old Clovis, five-year-old Pepper and six-year-old Ace. —Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 16 May 2025

Rosas competes in rodeos and enjoys trail rides with her 5-year-old quarter horse, Timone. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

The five who were euthanized Wednesday also were quarter horses. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quarter horse

• counterforce
• intercourse
• nonrecourse
• reinforce
• watercourse
• bourse
• coarse
• course
• force
• gorse
• hoarse
• norse

Kids Definition

quarter horse

noun

: any of a breed of stocky muscular horses capable of high speed for short distances

Word Origin

Quarter horse might seem like a strange name for an animal that is not only full-sized but quite sturdy and muscular. However, the breed gets its name not because it is a fraction of a horse but because it can run very fast for short distances. Unlike the slender, long-legged Thoroughbred horse, the compact quarter horse is built for quick bursts of speed. For about a quarter-mile the quarter horse probably can run faster than any other breed of horse. After that distance the quarter horse begins to slow down and can be beaten in a race with other horses.