ˈoffˌsaddle, off-saddle, v. Chiefly S. Africa.
[f. off- 1 + saddle v., after Du. afzadelen.]
trans. To take the saddle off (a horse) for a rest, feeding, etc.; to unsaddle; also absol.; transf. to make a break in a journey.
| 1837 F. Owen Diary (1926) 78 We off-saddled and sat on the ground on the outside of the fence. 1850 R. G. Cumming Five Yrs. Hunter's Life S. Afr. I. 119 Accordingly we off-saddled, and in a few minutes I was once more asleep. Ibid. 129 Having off-saddled our horses, we knee⁓haltered them. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting 389, I offsaddled Kebon, kneehaltered him and then lay under the shade of a tree. 1879 A. Forbes in Daily News 21 Aug., I mean to trek for home, perhaps I shall outspan for a few days at Capetown; perhaps I shan't off-saddle at all. 1887 Rider Haggard Jess 323 John was sharply ordered to dismount and offsaddle his horse. 1893 F. C. Selous Trav. S.E. Africa 21 Here..I had determined to off-saddle for the first time. 1915 Kipling New Army 22 The batteries off-saddled in silence. 1939 [see knee-halter v.]. 1974 B. Mather White Dacoit ii. 22 They halted and off-saddled and picqueted the horses half a mile downstream. |
Hence off-saddling vbl. n.
| 1906 Rider Haggard Benita ix. 120 Directions as to their herding, and the off-saddling of the horses. |