saddlecloth

1 7.4

A thick cloth under a saddle that protects the horse and absorbs sweat

noun
/ˈsædəlˌklɔθ/

: mantilla

He rides a light brown caparisoned horse with a red and particularly long ornate saddlecloth that covers almost his entire steed.

Examples

Seizing her mare's stiff upright mane, she swung onto her saddlecloth, making a slow circuit to pick up the trail.

Fiction book (1996)
The animal has a blue saddlecloth and several gold plaques around its neck.

Academic text (2006)
The bow, quiver, and mirror case banged against her sheepskin saddlecloth.

Fiction book (1996)
The saddlecloth protected the horse from discomfort while riding under the hot sun.
She placed a soft saddlecloth under the saddle to keep her horse comfortable during the long ride.
Before mounting the horse, he adjusted the saddlecloth to ensure it was properly positioned.

Synonyms

horse blanket

vssaddlecloth

2 3.2

A large blanket that covers a horse to keep it warm or protect it

is specifically a thick pad mainly meant to protect and absorb sweat under gear

saddle blanket

vssaddlecloth

1 4.2

A thick cloth or pad placed under a saddle to protect a horse's back and soak up sweat

has the same meaning but is the standard single-word name

horsecloth

vssaddlecloth

Archaic

9.9

A cover put on a horse to keep it warm or decorate it

is the specific thick under gear pad designed to absorb sweat and protect the animal

How Protective

blanket

67 2.8

saddlecloth

1 7.4

cloth

203 1.0

Surface Forms

saddlecloth singular

saddlecloths plural

Morphology

saddlecloth = saddle + cloth (transparent) = saddle + cloth

The word is a straightforward compound of 'saddle' and 'cloth', both of which retain their meanings in the compound.

Etymology

Saddlecloth comes from two simple words: saddle meaning 'seat on a horse' and cloth meaning 'piece of fabric', so it literally names the cloth you put under a saddle to protect the horse and absorb sweat.