equestrian, a. and n.
(ɪˈkwɛstrɪən)
[f. L. equestri-s belonging to a horseman (f. eques horseman, f. equ-us horse) + -an.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to horse-riding. Also of persons: Skilled in horse-riding.
| 1656–81 Blount Glossogr., Equestrian, pertaining to a Horse-man, Knight, or Gentleman, or to an Horse. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 104 ¶1, I should be glad if a certain Equestrian Order of Ladies..would take this Subject into their serious Consideration. 1741 Middleton Cicero (1742) I. iv. 273 The Equestrian races of the Circus. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 6 ¶4 Future candidates for equestrian glory. 1838 Lytton Alice ii. vi. 81 Evelyn's inexperience in equestrian matters. 1866 Edgar Runnymede (1870) 80 Their mettled palfreys, and their equestrian grace. |
2. Mounted on a horse. Also of a portrait or statue: Representing a person on horseback.
| 1711 Addison Spect. No. 59 ¶4 The Antique Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. 1711–14 Spectator (J.), An equestrian lady appeared upon the plains. 1791 Cowper Odyss. iii. 22 Advance at once to the equestrian chief. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge x, To sit for an equestrian portrait. |
3. Rom. Ant. Of or pertaining to the order of
Equites or Knights.
| 1696 Kennett Rom. Antiq. ii. iii. i. 97 One that had Four hundred [sestertia] might be taken into the Equestrian Order. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 241 Whatever might be the numbers, of equestrian, or plebeian rank, who perished in the massacre of Rome. 1879 Froude Cæsar viii. 78 Cicero challenged his opponents..to find a single instance in which an Equestrian Court could be found to have given a corrupt verdict. |
| transf. 1791 Burke App. Whigs Wks. 1808 VI. 237 A middle sort of men; a sort of equestrian order. |
b. Hist. Of or pertaining to the ‘knightly order’ in the states of the Holy Roman Empire.
| 1684 Scanderbeg Rediv. iv. 64 Next day the Equestrian Order went to the House of Senators. 1711 Lond. Gaz. No. 4930/1 The Deputies of the Equestrian Order, were to meet there. 1845 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. III. 617 The bishop, chapter and equestrian order, or nobles (Ritterschaft). |
B. n. a. One who rides on horseback.
b. One who publicly performs on horseback.
| 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsem. v. (1809) 87 Many of his Majesty's faithful subjects, whose occupations oblige them daily to figure as equestrians. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xiii, He stopped..internally wishing no good to the panting equestrian. 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg., Spectre Tappington (1882) 336 Mr. Peters..indifferent as an equestrian, had acquired some fame as a whip. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life, Fate Wks. (Bohn) II. 328 As the equestrians in the circus throw themselves nimbly from horse to horse. 1873 H. Spencer Study Sociol. x. 243 The tracts for equestrians having been from time to time increased. |
Hence
† equestriˈana ?
nonce-wd. [
f. as if
Lat.], a female equestrian.
eˈquestriaˌnism, the art or practice of riding on horseback.
eˈquestrianize v. intr., to act as an equestrian.
eˈquestriaˌnizing vbl. n.| 1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 197 See Mrs. M. a superb equestriana. 1872 Globe 5 Aug., Dislike of equestrianism. 1881 Morning Post 29 Sept. 5/4 Schule Reiterei..or riding school equestrianism. 1887 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 28 Nov. 2/1 Senator—and his daughters equestrianize about Washington daily. 1886 Blackie in Cassell's Fam. Mag. Feb. 151 This habit of bracing equestrianising. |