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to offsaddle

to offsaddle

9.9
To remove the saddle from a horse or pony
  • verb
  • /ˌɔfˈsædəl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : desensillar
  • The children watched as the ranch hands offsaddled the tired ponies at sunset.

Examples

  • The trainer offsaddled the pony gently.

  • He always makes sure to offsaddle carefully to avoid startling his mare.

  • After a long ride, we stopped to offsaddle the horses and let them rest.

  • Please offsaddle the horse after the ride.

  • After a long ride, we stopped to offsaddle the horses and let them rest.

  • He always makes sure to offsaddle carefully to avoid startling his mare.

  • Please offsaddle the horse after the ride.

Synonyms

to unsaddle
vsto offsaddle
1 6.0

Remove the saddle from a horse or other animal

has identical meaning but is an alternative phrasing
to untack
vsto offsaddle
  • Jargon
9.1

To take off a horse's saddle and other riding gear after a ride

removes only the saddle and not the other equipment

Antonyms

38 3.0

To put a special seat on a horse before riding

Surface Forms

offsaddle infinitive
offsaddled past
offsaddled past participle
offsaddling present participle
offsaddles third person singular

Morphology

offsaddle = saddle (transparent) = off + saddle

The verb is formed by adding the productive particle/prefix 'off' meaning removal to the noun 'saddle', yielding the clear meaning 'remove the saddle'.

Etymology

Offsaddle is formed from off- ('away' or 'remove') and saddle, so it literally means to take the saddle 'off' a horse. Picture unfastening the straps and lifting the saddle away after a long ride, and you have the modern meaning of offsaddle as removing the saddle and letting the horse rest.