outspan

[ verb out-span; noun out-span ]

verb (used with object)

, out·spanned, out·span·ning.

1. to unyoke or unhitch, as oxen from a wagon.

verb (used without object)

, out·spanned, out·span·ning.

1. to remove the yoke, harness, etc., from animals.

noun

1. the act or a place of outspanning.

outspan

noun

1. an area on a farm kept available for travellers to rest and refresh animals
2. the act of unharnessing or unyoking

verb

1. tr to unharness or unyoke (animals)
2. intr to relax

Word History and Origins

Origin of outspan¹

1815–25; translation of Afrikaans uitspan; out-, span ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of outspan¹

C19: partial translation of Afrikaans uitspan, from uit out + spannen to stretch

Example Sentences

I know this because we are finger to finger at the keyboard of a Steinway grand piano in a glitzy central London hotel lobby, and he easily outspans my meaty paws.

From The Guardian

The waggons had stopped for the night, the oxen were outspanned, and the native servants were engaged in knee-haltering their masters’ horses, which were then turned into the veldt to graze.

From Project Gutenberg

Between the kraal and the river, amid a thin grove of spreading giraffe-acacia trees, set upon a little islet of rising ground, lies the outspan where travellers bound to and from Ngami usually halt.

From Project Gutenberg

In all these weeks I haven’t seen a soul besides yourselves, except for a party of prospectors who outspanned one night.”

From Project Gutenberg

He scarcely noticed the bee-hive-shaped huts, for his eager eyes were fixed upon a couple of large bullock-waggons outspanned on the banks of the river.

From Project Gutenberg