inspan

[ in-span ]

verb (used with object)

, South Africa.

, in·spanned, in·span·ning.

1. to yoke or harness.

inspan

/ ɪnˈspæn /

verb

1. to harness (animals) to (a vehicle); yoke
2. to press (people) into service

Word History and Origins

Origin of inspan¹

From Afrikaans, dating back to 1825–35; in- ¹, span ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of inspan¹

C19: from Afrikaans, from Middle Dutch inspannen, from spannen to stretch, yoke; see span ¹

Example Sentences

The oxen were inspanned, the mules also, and about noon we started off on our trek for Zombode.

From Project Gutenberg

The horses appeared with the driver, and the business of inspanning began.

From Project Gutenberg

The first thing was to harness, or, as it is termed in that country, to inspan the cattle.

From Project Gutenberg

He could inspan and outspan oxen, and was already master of other useful veldt wrinkles, which usually take some time to acquire.

From Project Gutenberg

“Rum go, our meeting again, like this,” he said to Lawless, while they stood in the sunshine together and watched the others inspanning the mules.

From Project Gutenberg