side horse
- noun
- /saɪd hɔrs/
- UK
:
caballo de pommel
- The gymnast performed a routine on the side horse with remarkable control and balance.
Examples
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Judges gave high marks for the clean execution of skills on the side horse.
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During training, he worked to perfect his technique on the side horse.
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He practiced on the side horse for his gymnastics routine.
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The coach suggested using the side horse for better balance.
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The gymnast performed a routine on the side horse with remarkable control and balance.
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During training, he worked to perfect his technique on the side horse.
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Judges gave high marks for the clean execution of skills on the side horse.
Synonyms
28
7.7
A padded piece of equipment on legs used for vaulting in gymnastics
1
7.3
A gymnastics machine with two handles used for swinging and balancing moves
A padded piece of equipment with legs that people vault over to practice balance and jumping skills
Surface Forms
Morphology
side + horse
The literal meanings of 'side' (at the side) and 'horse' (the animal) do not transparently yield the specialized gymnastic apparatus described; a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would likely not infer a leather-covered cylindrical body with handles. 'Horse' here is a technical, metaphorical sports term (as in pommel/side horse), which is jargonistic and unpredictable from the parts, so the expression is not compositionally clear.
Etymology
Side horse may come from old training horses that were long wooden models looking like a horse turned on its side, with handles on top to hold. So, imagining a 'horse' on its side helps explain why the name now means the long leather body with handles that gymnasts use.