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Glite Dictionary
🎭 A cover for plans 🐎 A hunting decoy 💰 An initial offer
stalking-horse

stalking-horse

9.9
A screen hunters hide behind to get close to wild animals
  • noun
  • /ˈstɔkɪŋˌhɔrs/
translation icon : caballo de acecho
  • The use of a stalking-horse allowed hunters to get close enough to their prey for a clean shot.

Examples

  • In the past, hunters would approach wildfowl behind a stalking-horse to avoid detection.

  • The hunter used a stalking-horse to get closer to the deer.

  • He described the technique of using a stalking-horse as both clever and resourceful.

  • Many stalking-horses are made from natural materials to blend in.

  • In the past, hunters would approach wildfowl behind a stalking-horse to avoid detection.

  • The use of a stalking-horse allowed hunters to get close enough to their prey for a clean shot.

  • The hunter used a stalking-horse to get closer to the deer.

How Concealing

blind
  • Jargon
2 7.9
stalking-horse
9.9
bush
  • Australian
180 3.7

Surface Forms

stalking-horse singular
stalking-horses plural

Morphology

stalking-horse = stalking + horse (transparent) = stalking + horse

Literal compound of 'stalking' + 'horse' where the meaning (a horse used for stalking) is directly derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Stalking-horse comes from hunters who used a real horse as cover while they stalked, a word that means 'to follow quietly', so they could get very close to birds or animals. That's why a stalking-horse is a thing you hide behind when you approach game.