horse doctor
1
3.3
- noun
- /hɔrs ˈdɑktər/
:
veterinario equino
- We took our horse to the horse doctor for a check-up and vaccinations.
Examples
-
Old McCafferty didn't do a bad job for an old horse doctor, did he?
-
Helped the horse doctor until my wife's cousin died.
Fiction book (1990) -
Now... let's go see that horse doctor.
-
"I worked alongside a horse doctor nigh eight years."
Fiction book (1990) -
Can this horse doctor take out a bullet slug?
-
These horse doctors often had more arrogance than sense, and an Australian, to boot.
Fiction book (1995) -
When at last I was led into my stall, my knees were wrapped in wet cloths, and my foot was tied in a bran poultice to draw out the heat and cleanse it before the horse doctor came in the morning.
Fiction book (1996) -
After the accident, the horse doctor worked quickly to treat the injured horse.
-
It is important to find a skilled horse doctor with experience in treating racehorses.
Synonyms
144
1.9
A doctor who treats sick or injured animals
80
3.9
A person who treats sick or injured animals
12
4.2
A doctor who treats sick or injured animals
1
4.1
A doctor who treats sick or injured animals
How Specialized
1
3.3
80
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a veterinarian who specializes in the care of horses' is directly derivable from combining 'horse' (the animal) with 'doctor' (a practitioner who treats patients); the compound follows a transparent noun+noun composition where the second noun denotes the professional for the first noun. This type of formation is cross-linguistically common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Horse doctor comes from the simple, literal image of a horse and a doctor: a person who treats a horse's sickness or wounds, often travelling to farms or stables, so it means 'a vet who cares for horses'.