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Glite Dictionary
hostler

hostler

1 9.9
A person who cares for horses at a stable or inn
  • noun
  • /ˈhɑːstlər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : mozo de caballería
  • Here we stopped, turning our horses over to the attention of a hostler, who moved so slowly as to seem ossified.

Examples

  • As we arrived at the stables, the hostler greeted us and offered to help with our horses.

  • I spotted Monaghan in his usual garb of derby hat, vest, watch chain, and jumper, watching the roundhouse hostler spinning our engine on the turntable.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The man was a hostler, or horse groom, at the nearby Fox Inn.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Reaching the innyard, they gave their mounts to the only hostler still up, then went to their rooms.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Hostlers took charge of Spots and Cloud, and servants took their cloaks, all in well-trained silence.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The hostler at the inn carefully brushed the horses before they set off on their journey.

  • The hostler quickly tended to the tired horses, making sure they had enough feed and water.

Synonyms

wrangler
vshostler
  • US
10 7.4

A person who cares for riding horses on a ranch or cattle drive

focuses on tending horses at inns rather than on ranch or drive duties
groom
vshostler
9 5.3

A person who takes care of horses in a stable

is used especially for tending horses at inns rather than general stables
horseman
vshostler
5 4.4

A person who raises and cares for horses

focuses more on tending horses at inns rather than breeding and larger care
stableboy
vshostler
1 7.5

A young person who looks after horses in a stable

is used more for tending horses at inns rather than indicating youth
stabler
vshostler
  • Archaic
1 5.5

A person who cares for horses and other animals in a stable

focuses more on tending horses especially at inns rather than all stable animals
stableman
vshostler
1 7.9

A man who works in a stable caring for horses

is used more for tending horses at inns rather than highlighting worker gender
horse wrangler
vshostler
  • US
1 7.1

A person who cares for and handles horses on a ranch or film set

focuses on tending horses at inns rather than on ranch or film work
livery worker
vshostler
  • Archaic
8.2

A person who cares for horses and looks after the stable

is focused more on tending horses at inns than on livery stable work
liveryman
vshostler
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who takes care of horses at a stable

is used more for tending horses at inns rather than work at livery stables
stablewoman
vshostler
8.8

A woman who works in a stable to feed and care for horses

is used more for tending horses at inns rather than specifying worker gender
stablegirl
vshostler
8.5

A girl or woman who cares for horses in a stable

is used more for tending horses at inns rather than stressing feminine term
staller
vshostler
7.5

A person who looks after animals kept in stalls

focuses more on tending horses at inns rather than general stall work

Surface Forms

hostler singular
hostlers plural

Etymology

Hostler comes from an old word for a place to stay, hostel, which means 'inn' or 'guest house'. Think of a hostler as the person at an inn who looks after the guests' horses, which is why it means someone who cares for horses at a stable.