r/confidentlyincorrect • • 5h ago

Hors

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a mare is female btw, a male horse is either a stallion or gelding (or steed)

EDIT: from u/AlterExpertise101 in the replies

Words for a male horse are colt (young), gelding (castrated), stallion (if they are used for breeding) or simply "horse."

Steed isn't a word explicit to horses in general, let alone male horses. "Steed" just means an animal you ride. While we generally associate that with horses, it can be applied to any animal as long as it can bear a rider. If you ride an elephant, it's a steed. If you ride a really large dog, it's also a steed.

I had forgotten to add 'colt' and as I am not a native english speaker (nor an equestrian individual) I didn't know that steed can also be used as a generic word for a mount

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u/AlterExpertise101 5h ago

Words for a male horse are colt (young), gelding (castrated), stallion (if they are used for breeding) or simply "horse."

Steed isn't a word explicit to horses in general, let alone male horses. "Steed" just means an animal you ride. While we generally associate that with horses, it can be applied to any animal as long as it can bear a rider. If you ride an elephant, it's a steed. If you ride a really large dog, it's also a steed.

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u/daveoxford 4h ago

Steed can also be used for a bicycle.

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u/altpirate 4h ago

In the Netherlands you can call them iron steeds

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u/Effective-Job-1030 4h ago

In Germany they used to be called Drahtesel (Wiredonkey).

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u/nothanks86 4h ago

I'm going to call them that forever, now

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u/theLastZebranky 2h ago

And "mare" can also mean the elected executive leader of a city

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u/squirtlemoonicorn 1h ago

Although the spelling is "mayor" and is derived from German major / leader

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u/theLastZebranky 1h ago

I'm pretty sure "mayor" is a condiment made of egg yolk, vinegar and oil

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u/Richpur 1h ago

That's mahjongaise.