horseshoe

Etymology

(identified by the letter "C" on the shown horseshoe) consist of spur-point and a shank to form an antislipping device.]] From Middle English horsscho, horssho, horscho, hors schoo, equivalent to horse + shoe.

noun

1. The U-shaped shoe of a horse, now typically made of metal; by extension, a representation of this used to play the game horseshoes, hung as a luck charm, etc.
   And what has been thus affirmed of other leading commodities; the blacksmith, for example, no longer making, but buying his horseshoes, nails, nuts, and bolts; 1887, David A. Wells, "The Economic Disturbances since 1873", III, Popular Science 31 (no. 37): 595
   The ancient Romans … used leather horseshoes; the Chinese made straw sandals for their mounts; and American Indians used leather moccasins, which they tied around their horses ' ankles. In days of old, people took their horses to the smithy to be shod. 1984, Leda Blumberg, The Horselover's Handbook: An Introduction to Owning, Caring For, and Riding Horses, page 46
   Each player has a turn at tossing his horseshoes, one at a time, at the stob opposite him. His opponent then throws his horseshoes. 1997, Francis Edward Abernethy, editor, Texas toys and games, page 142
2. The U shape of a horseshoe.
   If there are no missing teeth and tooth alignment is good, two opposing well-defined horseshoes are seen. If, however, your denitition is mal-aligned or is missing anterior teeth, this pattern too should be reflected in the bite mark. 2005, Stuart H. James, Jon J. Nordby (editors), Forensic science: an introduction to scientific and investigative techniques, page 88
   Whereas the railway heads inland to take the easier but much longer horseshoe-shaped route around the firth, the A9 directly crosses it from north to south on a bridge built in 1991. October 20 2021, Paul Stephen, “Leisure and pleasure on the Far North Line”, in RAIL, number 942, page 49
3. (bodybuilding, slang) A well-developed set of triceps brachii muscles.
   The lateral head of your triceps forms the outside of the horseshoe, the long head forms the inside, the medial head lies beneath the long head, and the tendon occupies the flat space in the middle. 2004, Ellington Darden, The New High-Intensity Training, page 58
4. (logic) The symbol ⊃.
5. (Midwestern US) An open-faced sandwich originating from Springfield, Illinois, consisting of thick-sliced toasted bread, often Texas toast, a hamburger patty, French fries, and a cheese sauce.

verb

1. To apply horseshoes to (a horse).