cockhorse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Archaic/Literary)Archaic, Literary, Nursery Rhyme, Historical
Quick answer
What does “cockhorse” mean?
A child's toy horse, typically a rocking horse or a stick with a horse's head, used for play.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A child's toy horse, typically a rocking horse or a stick with a horse's head, used for play.
Historically, a spirited or high-spirited horse; also, figuratively, a person who behaves in a proud, boastful, or arrogant manner (now archaic).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and rare in both varieties. The nursery rhyme is slightly more culturally embedded in the UK, but the word itself is not in active use in either dialect.
Connotations
Strongly connotes childhood, nursery rhymes, and historical or folkloric settings. No negative or offensive connotations are associated with the toy meaning in modern contexts.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary speech or writing outside of quoting the nursery rhyme.
Grammar
How to Use “cockhorse” in a Sentence
[Subject] + ride + a cockhorseVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical, literary, or folklore studies discussing nursery rhymes or historical toys.
Everyday
Virtually never used in spontaneous speech. May be recited as part of the nursery rhyme to or with young children.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cockhorse”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cockhorse”
- Using it to refer to a real horse. Treating it as a modern, common noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the 'cock-' part is an old intensifying prefix meaning 'high' or 'tilted up', similar to 'cock' in 'cockpit'. It refers to the raised, proud position of the rider, not the bird.
Only in very specific contexts, such as historical fiction, discussions of nursery rhymes, or antique toys. In general contemporary writing, use 'rocking horse' or 'hobby horse'.
Banbury is a town in Oxfordshire, England. Banbury Cross is a historic market cross there, famously mentioned in the nursery rhyme.
Yes, in the 16th-18th centuries, 'cockhorse' could refer to a spare horse, a post-horse, or a high-spirited horse. This meaning is entirely obsolete.
A child's toy horse, typically a rocking horse or a stick with a horse's head, used for play.
Cockhorse is usually archaic, literary, nursery rhyme, historical in register.
Cockhorse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒkhɔːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːkhɔːrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Ride a cockhorse to Banbury Cross (to see a fine lady upon a white horse)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a proud COCK (rooster) trying to ride a HORSE. It's as silly and playful as a child's toy horse.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIDE/BOASTFULNESS IS RIDING A HIGH HORSE (archaic sense). PLAY/IMAGINATION IS RIDING A TOY.
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary English, the word 'cockhorse' is best described as: