adv · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈhɔɹsˌbæk/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈhɔːsˌbæk/
CMU ARPABET:HH AO1 R S B AE2 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
On the back of a horse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ahorse, ahorseback, on horseback
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The back of a horse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable, usually, with-on
Qualifier: upon
Examples
They came on horseback across the plains.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A ridge of sand, gravel, and boulders.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
on the back of a horse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he rode horseback to town
managed to escape ahorse
policeman patrolled the streets ahorseback
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ahorse, ahorseback
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the back of a horse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: body part
6
noun
Meaning 6
a narrow ridge of hills
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hogback
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ridge, ridgeline
History
Etymology
From Middle English horsebacke, horsebak, horsbak, equivalent to horse + back.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bashkir:
һыбай
(hıbay)
— on the back of a horse
Bulgarian:
на кон
(na kon)
— on the back of a horse
Chinese Mandarin:
馬上 /马上
(mǎshàng)
— on the back of a horse
Finnish:
ratsain
— on the back of a horse
French:
à cheval
— on the back of a horse
Galician:
a cabalo
— on the back of a horse
German:
zu Pferde
— on the back of a horse
Greek:
καβάλα
(kavála)
— on the back of a horse
Greek:
καβαλαρία
(kavalaría)
— on the back of a horse
Ancient Greek:
ἐπι ἵππου
(epi híppou)
— on the back of a horse
Irish:
ar chapall
— on the back of a horse
Irish:
ar dhroim capaill
— on the back of a horse
Irish:
ar muin capaill
— on the back of a horse
Italian:
a cavallo
— on the back of a horse
Japanese:
馬に乗って
(uma ni notte)
— on the back of a horse
Latin:
in equō
— on the back of a horse
Old Church Slavonic:
на кони
(na koni)
— on the back of a horse
Portuguese:
a cavalo
— on the back of a horse
Romanian:
călare
— on the back of a horse
Russian:
верхо́м
(verxóm)
— on the back of a horse
Spanish:
a caballo
— on the back of a horse
Chinese Mandarin:
馬背 /马背
(mǎbèi)
— back of a horse
Finnish:
hevosen selkä
— back of a horse
German:
Pferderücken
— back of a horse
Hungarian:
lóhát
— back of a horse
Icelandic:
hestbak
— back of a horse
Japanese:
馬の背
(uma no se)
— back of a horse
Middle English:
horsbak
— back of a horse
Norwegian:
hesterygg
— back of a horse
Russian:
спина́ ло́шади
(spiná lóšadi)
— back of a horse
Bulgarian:
гребен
(greben)
— ridge of sand, gravel, and boulders
Finnish:
harju
— ridge of sand, gravel, and boulders
Russian:
гре́бень
(grébenʹ)
— ridge of sand, gravel, and boulders
Russian:
гряда́
(grjadá)
— ridge of sand, gravel, and boulders
