Tennessee Walker
- noun
- /ˈtɛnəˌsi ˈwɔːkər/
:
caballo Tennessee Walker
- At the horse show, she proudly showcased her Tennessee Walker, which won first place in the gait competition.
Examples
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The Tennessee Walker is known for its unique four-beat running walk, making it ideal for long rides.
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Haven breeds those famous Tennessee Walkers you've heard about.
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Then my mother, who was out front on her Tennessee Walker, began to answer back in full Eastman School of Music soprano, their voices rising to meet each other in counterpoint to the thunder, ringing the line of us kids down into the shelter of the valley.
Fiction book (2002) -
Many riders prefer the Tennessee Walker for its smooth and comfortable stride during long trail rides.
Synonyms
A breed of horse with a smooth, easy walk used for riding and shows
A horse trained to move fast and smoothly for long rides
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase pairs the place-name 'Tennessee' with 'walker' (one who walks), so learners can infer a partial sense—something from Tennessee associated with walking or a gait. However, the specific lexicalized meaning 'a breed of horse with a distinctive running walk' is not directly predictable from the constituents and requires world knowledge or exposure, so it is only partly transparent.
Etymology
Tennessee Walker is named for the state Tennessee and for the horse's smooth 'running walk', a fast, gliding step that feels very comfortable to a rider. That's why the name now means a breed of horse people choose for comfortable long rides.
