mustang English · revision 1518

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1808}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmʌˌsteɪ̯ŋ/, /ˈmʌˌstɛ̃ŋ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|es|mestengo|t=animal that strays]], a Mexican Spanish word,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from older Spanish [[m|es|mesteño|t=wild, stray, ownerless]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) literally “belonging to the mesta”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[m|es|mesta|t=association of graziers; annual roundup of cattle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la-med|mixta|t=mixed (animals)]], from [[la|miscēre|t=to mix]] (see [[mix]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The form may have been influenced by Spanish [[m|es|mostrenco|t=straying, ownerless]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The wild or half-wild horse of the American plains, descended from horses brought by the Spaniards (1808 in the OED, Barnhart, Etymonline and Merriam-Webster).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ''mesta'' was an association of Spanish cattle ranchers that divided among its members stray or unclaimed animals that had got “mixed” with the herds.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Bartlett (1848) describes the mustang as the hardy wild horse of the prairies, content with little and able to do great labour.^(Bartlett 1848) The name was extended to wild horses in Australia (1890)^(OED 1989) and to a small red grape of Texas (1846).^(OED 1989) In American military slang a ''mustang'' is an officer who has risen from the ranks (1847).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1808 – the wild horse.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1846 – the mustang grape.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1847 – an officer promoted from the ranks (slang).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – an Australian wild horse.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small, hardy, wild or half-wild [[horse]] of the western plains of North America, descended from Spanish horses; a [[bronco]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US military slang)'' A commissioned officer who has risen from the ranks.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hunt or round up wild horses.^(RHWU)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mustanger]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mix]]

+ * [[mixture]]

+ * [[bronco]]

+ * [[pinto]]

+ * [[cayuse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}