outspan

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • v outspan remove the yoke or harness from "outspan the draft animals"
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • v. t. & i outspan To unyoke or disengage, as oxen from a wagon; to unharness (a horse).
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • outspan To unyoke or unhitch (oxen from a wagon); unharness or unsaddle (a horse or horses).
    • outspan To detach oxen from a wagon; hence, to encamp.
    • n outspan The act of unyoking or unharnessing oxen or horses.
    • n outspan The time and place of the outspan; hence, an encampment; a camp.
    • outspan To stretch beyond the span or reach of.
    • outspan To spread out or extend, as an arch.
    • n outspan The entire span or stretch, especially the span of an arch.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • v.t., v.i Outspan owt-span′ to unyoke or unharness draught-oxen, &c., from a vehicle, to encamp—opp. to Inspan.
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Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
D. uitspannen,

Usage

In literature:

We had crossed the Blood River, and after an extra long morning's trek had outspanned on one of the small tributaries of that stream.
"A Frontier Mystery" by Bertram Mitford
It's away on the flat there at the outspan just outside the town; any one'll tell you.
"The Luck of Gerard Ridgeley" by Bertram Mitford
No use outspanning here.
"In the Whirl of the Rising" by Bertram Mitford
Shall we outspan and make a night of it on the veldt?
"A Veldt Vendetta" by Bertram Mitford
My waggon's outspanned yonder on the flat.
"'Tween Snow and Fire" by Bertram Mitford
Northward we trekked steadily through wild desolate country for the best part of one day, and outspanned by a desert pool for the night.
"Tales of South Africa" by H.A. Bryden
Wherefore for days they would outspan near a group of kraals, although of trade there was next to nothing done.
"A Secret of the Lebombo" by Bertram Mitford
He and Magwelo will do the outspanning.
"Harley Greenoak's Charge" by Bertram Mitford
You arrived at a farmhouse and asked leave to outspan by the spruit.
"The African Colony" by John Buchan
They had outspanned by the last spring, which gurgled out among the roots of the mokhala-trees upon the very edge of the desert.
"The Young Yagers" by Mayne Reid
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