horn

[ hawrn ]

noun

1. one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain hooved mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.
2. a similar growth, sometimes of hair, as the median horn or horns on the snout of the rhinoceros, or the tusk of the narwhal.
3. antler.
4. a process projecting from the head of an animal and suggestive of such a growth, as a feeler, tentacle, or crest.
5. the bony substance of which such animal growths are composed.
6. any similar substance, as that forming tortoise shell, hoofs, nails, or corns.
7. an article made of the material of an animal horn or like substance, as a thimble, spoon, or shoehorn.
8. any projection or extremity resembling the horn of an animal.
9. something resembling or suggesting an animal horn:

   a drinking horn.

10. a part resembling an animal horn attributed to deities, demons, etc.:

    the devil's horn.

11. Usually horns. the imaginary projections on a cuckold's brow.
12. Music.
    1. a wind instrument, originally formed from the hollow horn of an animal but now usually made of brass or other metal or plastic.
    2. French horn.
13. something used as or resembling such a wind instrument.
14. Slang. a trumpet.
15. an instrument for sounding a warning signal:

    an automobile horn.

16. Aeronautics. any of certain short, armlike levers on the control surfaces of an airplane.
17. Radio.
    1. a tube of varying cross section used in some loudspeakers to couple the diaphragm to the sound-transmitting space.
    2. Slang. a loudspeaker.
18. Slang. a telephone or radiotelephone:

    I've been on the horn all morning.

19. the high protuberant part at the front and top of certain saddles; a pommel, especially a high one.
20. Carpentry. (in a door or window frame) that part of a jamb extending above the head.
21. one of the curved extremities of a crescent, especially of the crescent moon.
22. a crescent-shaped tract of land.
23. a pyramidal mountain peak, especially one having concave faces carved by glaciation.
24. a symbol of power or strength, as in the Bible:

    a horn of salvation.

25. each of the alternatives of a dilemma.
26. the narrow, more pointed part of an anvil.
27. ear tuft.
28. Metalworking. a projection at the side of the end of a rolled sheet or strip, caused by unevenness of the roll due to wear.
29. Horology. (in a lever escapement) either of the two prongs at the end of the lever fork guarding against overbanking when the guard pin is in the crescent.

verb (used with object)

1. to cuckold.
2. to butt or gore with the horns.
3. Shipbuilding. to set up (a frame or bulkhead of a vessel being built) at a proper angle to the keel with due regard to the inclination of the keel on the ways; plumb.

adjective

1. made of horn.

horn

¹

/ hɔːn /

noun

1. either of a pair of permanent outgrowths on the heads of cattle, antelopes, sheep, etc, consisting of a central bony core covered with layers of keratin corneouskeratoid
2. the outgrowth from the nasal bone of a rhinoceros, consisting of a mass of fused hairs
3. any hornlike projection or process, such as the eyestalk of a snail
4. the antler of a deer
5. 1. the constituent substance, mainly keratin, of horns, hooves, etc
   2. ( in combination )

      horn-rimmed spectacles

6. a container or device made from this substance or an artificial substitute

   a drinking horn

   a shoe horn

7. an object or part resembling a horn in shape, such as the points at either end of a crescent, the point of an anvil, the pommel of a saddle, or a cornucopia
8. a primitive musical wind instrument made from the horn of an animal
9. any musical instrument consisting of a pipe or tube of brass fitted with a mouthpiece, with or without valves See hunting horn French horn cor anglais
10. slang.
    jazz any wind instrument
11. 1. a device for producing a warning or signalling noise
    2. ( in combination )

       a foghorn

12. usually plural the hornlike projection attributed to certain devils, deities, etc
13. usually plural the imaginary hornlike parts formerly supposed to appear on the forehead of a cuckold
14. Also calledhorn balance an extension of an aircraft control surface that projects in front of the hinge providing aerodynamic assistance in moving the control
15. 1. Also calledacoustic hornexponential horn a hollow conical device coupled to the diaphragm of a gramophone to control the direction and quality of the sound
    2. any such device used to spread or focus sound, such as the device attached to an electrical loudspeaker in a public address system
    3. Also calledhorn antenna a microwave aerial, formed by flaring out the end of a waveguide
16. geology another name for pyramidal peak
17. a stretch of land or water shaped like a horn
18. slang.
    an erection of the penis
19. Bible a symbol of power, victory, or success

    in my name shall his horn be exalted

20. blow one's horn
    to boast about oneself; brag Brit equivalentblow one's own trumpet
21. draw in one's horns or pull in one's horns
    1. to suppress or control one's feelings, esp of anger, enthusiasm, or passion
    2. to withdraw a previous statement
    3. to economize
22. on the horns of a dilemma
    1. in a situation involving a choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
    2. in an awkward situation

verb

1. to provide with a horn or horns
2. to gore or butt with a horn

Horn

²

/ hɔːn /

noun

1. Cape
   See Cape Horn

horn

/ hôrn /

1. Either of the bony growths projecting from the upper part of the head of certain hoofed mammals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The horns of these animals are never shed, and they consist of bone covered by keratin.
2. A hard growth that looks like a horn, such as an antler or a growth on the head of a giraffe or rhinoceros. Unlike true horns, antlers are shed yearly and have a velvety covering, and the horns of a rhinoceros are made not of bone but of hairy skin fused with keratin.
3. The hard durable substance that forms the outer covering of true horns. It consists of keratin.

Derived Forms

• ˈhornˌlike, adjective
• ˈhornless, adjective

Other Words From

• hornish adjective
• hornless adjective
• hornless·ness noun
• hornlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of horn¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English horn(e) (noun), Old English horn; cognate with Dutch horen, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish horn, German Horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu “horn,” Irish, Welsh corn; akin to Greek kéras “horn” ( cerat- ); cornu

Word History and Origins

Origin of horn¹

Old English; related to Old Norse horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu horn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. blow / toot one's own horn, Informal. to publicize or boast about one's abilities or achievements:

   He's a bright fellow, but likes to blow his own horn too much.

2. draw / pull in one's horns, to restrain oneself or become less belligerent; retreat:

   Since he lost so much gambling, he's drawn in his horns a bit.

3. horn in, Informal. to thrust oneself forward obtrusively; intrude or interrupt:

   Every time we try to have a private conversation, the boss horns in.

4. lock horns, to conflict, quarrel, or disagree:

   The administration and the staff locked horns over the proposed measures.

5. on the horns of a dilemma, confronted with two equally disagreeable choices.

More idioms and phrases containing horn

• blow one's own horn
• lock horns
• pull in one's horns
• take the bull by the horns

Example Sentences

These groups often attempt to use the hunts' own tools against them - buying imitation horns and whips to try to distract the hounds.

From BBC

The horned skull of a Naga tribesman was among thousands of items that European colonial administrators had collected from the state.

From BBC

The morning after the ceremony, as they waved off guests who were returning to the mainland, the crew saluted the newlyweds with a toot of the horn.

From BBC

Six different Lakers scored in double figures, with James emphatically clapping his hands and Davis holding the ball in the air at the final horn.

From Los Angeles Times

Aside from fronting his namesake band Dio from 1982 through 2010, the diminutive singer was known for his piercing vocals and being among the first rockers to flash the famed devil horns hand gesture.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beaker
• canteen
• carafe
• chalice
• decanter
• jug
• urn
• vial