Adjacent Words

Horn definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HORN, n. [L. cornu]
1. A hard substance growing on the heads of certain animals, and particularly on cloven-footed quadrupeds; usually projecting to some length and terminating in a point. Horns are generally bent or curving, and those of some animals are spiral. They serve for weapons of offense and defense. The substance of horns is gelatinous, and in Papin's digester it may be converted into jelly.
Horn is an animal substance, chiefly membranous, consisting of coagulated albumen, with a little gelatin and phosphate of lime.
The horns of deer possess exactly the properties of bone,and are composed of the same constituents, only the proportion of cartilage is greater.
2. A wind instrument of music, made of horn; a trumpet. Such were used by the Israelites.
3. In modern times, a wind instrument made of metal.
4. An extremity of the moon, when it is waxing or waning, and forming a crescent.
5. The feeler or antenna of an insect.
6. The feeler of a snail, which may be withdrawn; hence, to pull or draw in the horns, is to repress one's ardor, or to restrain pride.
7. A drinking cup; horns being used anciently for cups.
8. A winding stream.
9. Horns, in the plural, is used to characterize a cuckold.
He wears the horns.
10. In Scripture, horn is a symbol of strength or power.
The horn of Moab is cut off. Jeremiah 48.
Horn is also an emblem of glory, honor, dignity.
My horn is exalted in the Lord. 2 Samuel 2.
In Daniel, horn represents a kingdom or state.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
2: one of the bony outgrowths on the heads of certain ungulates
3: a noise made by the driver of an automobile to give warning;
4: a high pommel of a Western saddle (usually metal covered with leather) [syn: horn, saddle horn]
5: a brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves [syn: cornet, horn, trumpet, trump]
6: any hard protuberance from the head of an organism that is similar to or suggestive of a horn
7: the material (mostly keratin) that covers the horns of ungulates and forms hooves and claws and nails
8: a device having the shape of a horn; "horns at the ends of a new moon"; "the hornof an anvil"; "the cleat had two horns"
9: an alarm device that makes a loud warning sound
10: a brass musical instrument consisting of a conical tube that is coiled into a spiral and played by means of valves [syn: French horn, horn]
11: a device on an automobile for making a warning noise [syn: automobile horn, car horn, motor horn, horn, hooter] v
1: stab or pierce with a horn or tusk; "the rhino horned the explorer" [syn: horn, tusk]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German horn, Latin cornu, Greek keras Date: before 12th century 1. a. one of the usually paired bony processes that arise from the head of many ungulates and that are found in some extinct mammals and reptiles: as (1) one of the permanent paired hollow sheaths of keratin usually present in both sexes of cattle and their relatives that function chiefly for defense and arise from a bony core anchored to the skull — see cow illustration (2) antler (3) a permanent solid horn of keratin that is attached to the nasal bone of a rhinoceros (4) one of a pair of permanent bone protuberances from the skull of a giraffe or okapi that are covered with hairy skin b. a part like an animal's horn attributed especially to the devil c. a natural projection or excrescence from an animal resembling or suggestive of a horn d. (1) the tough fibrous material consisting chiefly of keratin that covers or forms the horns of cattle and related animals, hooves, or other horny parts (as claws or nails) (2) a manufactured product (as a plastic) resembling horn e. a hollow horn used to hold something 2. something resembling or suggestive of a horn: as a. one of the curved ends of a crescent b. a sharp mountain peak c. a body of land or water shaped like a horn d. a beak-shaped part of an anvil e. a high pommel of a saddle f. cornu 3. a. an animal's horn used as a wind instrument b. a brass wind instrument: as (1) hunting horn (2) French horn c. a wind instrument used in a jazz band; especially trumpet d. a usually electrical device that makes a noise like that of a horn 4. a source of strength 5. one of the equally disadvantageous alternatives presented by a dilemma 6. slang telephone • horn adjective • horned adjective • hornedness noun • hornless adjective • hornlessness noun • hornlike adjective

Merriam Webster's

or North Cape geographical name cape NW Iceland

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) In naval mine warfare, a projection from the mine shell of some contact mines which, when broken or bent by contact, causes the mine to fire.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a hard permanent outgrowth, often curved and pointed, on the head of cattle, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and other esp. hoofed mammals, found singly, in pairs, or one in front of another. b the structure of a horn, consisting of a core of bone encased in keratinized skin. 2 each of two deciduous branched appendages on the head of (esp. male) deer. 3 a hornlike projection on the head of other animals, e.g. a snail's tentacle, the crest of a horned owl, etc. 4 the substance of which horns are composed. 5 anything resembling or compared to a horn in shape. 6 Mus. a = French horn. b a wind instrument played by lip vibration, orig. made of horn, now usu. of brass. c a horn player. 7 an instrument sounding a warning or other signal (car horn; foghorn). 8 a receptacle or instrument made of horn, e.g. a drinking-vessel or powder-flask etc. 9 a horn-shaped projection. 10 the extremity of the moon or other crescent. 11 a an arm or branch of a river, bay, etc. b (the Horn) Cape Horn. 12 a pyramidal peak formed by glacial action. 13 coarse sl. an erect penis. 14 the hornlike emblem of a cuckold. --v.tr. 1 (esp. as horned adj.) provide with horns. 2 gore with the horns. Phrases and idioms: horn in sl. 1 (usu. foll. by on) intrude. 2 interfere. horn of plenty a cornucopia. horn-rimmed (esp. of spectacles) having rims made of horn or a substance resembling it. on the horns of a dilemma faced with a decision involving equally unfavourable alternatives. Derivatives: hornist n. (in sense 6 of n.). hornless adj. hornlike adj. Etymology: OE f. Gmc, rel. to L cornu

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Poppy Pop"py, n.; pl. Poppies. [OE. popy, AS. popig, L. papaver.] (Bot.) Any plant or species of the genus Papaver, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species (Papaver somniferum) opium is obtained, though all the species contain it to some extent; also, a flower of the plant. See Illust. of Capsule. California poppy (Bot.), any yellow-flowered plant of the genus Eschscholtzia. Corn poppy. See under Corn. Horn, or Horned, poppy. See under Horn. Poppy bee (Zo["o]l.), a leaf-cutting bee (Anthocopa papaveris) which uses pieces cut from poppy petals for the lining of its cells; -- called also upholsterer bee. Prickly poppy (Bot.), Argemone Mexicana, a yellow-flowered plant of the Poppy family, but as prickly as a thistle. Poppy seed, the seed the opium poppy (P. somniferum). Spatling poppy (Bot.), a species of Silene (S. inflata). See Catchfly.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Horn Horn, n. [AS. horn; akin to D. horen, hoorn, G., Icel., Sw., & Dan. horn, Goth. ha['u]rn, W., Gael., & Ir. corn, L. cornu, Gr. ?, and perh. also to E. cheer, cranium, cerebral; cf. Skr. [,c]iras head. Cf. Carat, Corn on the foot, Cornea, Corner, Cornet, Cornucopia, Hart.] 1. A hard, projecting, and usually pointed organ, growing upon the heads of certain animals, esp. of the ruminants, as cattle, goats, and the like. The hollow horns of the Ox family consist externally of true horn, and are never shed. 2. The antler of a deer, which is of bone throughout, and annually shed and renewed. 3. (Zo["o]l.) Any natural projection or excrescence from an animal, resembling or thought to resemble a horn in substance or form; esp.: (a) A projection from the beak of a bird, as in the hornbill. (b) A tuft of feathers on the head of a bird, as in the horned owl. (c) A hornlike projection from the head or thorax of an insect, or the head of a reptile, or fish. (d) A sharp spine in front of the fins of a fish, as in the horned pout. 4. (Bot.) An incurved, tapering and pointed appendage found in the flowers of the milkweed (Asclepias). 5. Something made of a horn, or in resemblance of a horn; as: (a) A wind instrument of music; originally, one made of a horn (of an ox or a ram); now applied to various elaborately wrought instruments of brass or other metal, resembling a horn in shape. ``Wind his horn under the castle wall.'' --Spenser. See French horn, under French. (b) A drinking cup, or beaker, as having been originally made of the horns of cattle. ``Horns of mead and ale.'' --Mason. (c) The cornucopia, or horn of plenty. See Cornucopia. ``Fruits and flowers from Amalth[ae]a's horn.'' --Milton. (d) A vessel made of a horn; esp., one designed for containing powder; anciently, a small vessel for carrying liquids. ``Samuel took the hornof oil and anointed him [David].'' --1 Sam. xvi. 13. (e) The pointed beak of an anvil. (f) The high pommel of a saddle; also, either of the projections on a lady's saddle for supporting the leg. (g) (Arch.) The Ionic volute. (h) (Naut.) The outer end of a crosstree; also, one of the projections forming the jaws of a gaff, boom, etc. (i) (Carp.) A curved projection on the fore part of a plane. (j) One of the projections at the four corners of the Jewish altar of burnt offering. ``Joab . . . caught hold on the horns of the altar.'' --1 Kings ii. 28. 6. One of the curved ends of a crescent; esp., an extremity or cusp of the moon when crescent-shaped. The moon Wears a wan circle round her blunted horns. --Thomson. 7. (Mil.) The curving extremity of the wing of an army or of a squadron drawn up in a crescentlike form. Sharpening in mooned horns Their phalanx. --Milton. 8. The tough, fibrous material of which true horns are composed, being, in the Ox family, chiefly albuminous, with some phosphate of lime; also, any similar substance, as that which forms the hoof crust of horses, sheep, and cattle; as, a spoon of horn. 9. (Script.) A symbol of strength, power, glory, exaltation, or pride. The Lord is . . . the horn of my salvation. --Ps. xviii. 2. 10. An emblem of a cuckold; -- used chiefly in the plural. ``Thicker than a cuckold's horn.'' --Shak. Horn block, the frame or pedestal in which a railway car axle box slides up and down; -- also called horn plate. Horn of a dilemma. See under Dilemma. Horn distemper, a disease of cattle, affecting the internal substance of the horn. Horn drum, a wheel with long curved scoops, for raising water. Horn lead (Chem.), chloride of lead. Horn maker, a maker of cuckolds. [Obs.] --Shak. Horn mercury. (Min.) Same as Horn quicksilver (below). Horn poppy (Bot.), a plant allied to the poppy (Glaucium luteum), found on the sandy shores of Great Britain and Virginia; -- called also horned poppy. --Gray. Horn pox (Med.), abortive smallpox with an eruption like that of chicken pox. Horn quicksilver (Min.), native calomel, or bichloride of mercury. Horn shell (Zo["o]l.), any long, sharp, spiral, gastropod shell, of the genus Cerithium, and allied genera. Horn silver (Min.), cerargyrite. Horn slate, a gray, siliceous stone. To haul in one's horns, to withdraw some arrogant pretension. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Horn Horn, v. t. 1. To furnish with horns; to give the shape of a horn to. 2. To cause to wear horns; to cuckold. [Obs.] --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(horns) 1. On a vehicle such as a car, the horn is the device that makes a loud noise as a signal or warning. He sounded the car horn. N-COUNT: oft supp N 2. The horns of an animal such as a cow or deer are the hard pointed things that grow from its head. N-COUNT: usu pl 3. Horn is the hard substance that the horns of animals are made of. Horn is sometimes used to make objects such as spoons, buttons, or ornaments. N-UNCOUNT see also horn-rimmed 4. A horn is a musical instrument of the brass family. It is a long circular metal tube, wide at one end, which you play by blowing. N-COUNT: oft the N 5. A horn is a simple musical instrument consisting of a metal tube that is wide at one end and narrow at the other. You play it by blowing into it. ...a hunting horn. N-COUNT 6. see also shoehorn 7. If you blow your own horn, you boast about yourself. (mainly AM) PHRASE 8. If two people lock horns, they argue about something. During his six years in office, Seidman has often locked horns with lawmakers. PHRASE: V inflects, pl-n PHR 9. If you are on the horns of a dilemma, you have to choose between two things, both of which are unpleasant or difficult. The bird is caught on the horns of a dilemma. Should it attack the predator, even though it then risks its own life? Or should it get out while the going is good? PHRASE: PHR after v 10. If someone pulls in their horns or draws in their horns, they start behaving more cautiously than they did before, especially by spending less money. Customers are drawing in their horns at a time of high interest rates. PHRASE: V inflects 11. to take the bull by the horns: see bull

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Trumpets were at first horns perforated at the tip, used for various purposes (Josh. 6:4,5).

Flasks or vessels were made of horn (1 Sam. 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39).

But the word is used also metaphorically to denote the projecting corners of the altar of burnt offerings (Ex. 27:2) and of incense (30:2). The horns of the altar of burnt offerings were to be smeared with the blood of the slain bullock (29:12; Lev. 4:7-18). The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28).

The word also denotes the peak or summit of a hill (Isa. 5:1, where the word "hill" is the rendering of the same Hebrew word).

This word is used metaphorically also for strength (Deut. 33:17) and honour (Job 16:15; Lam. 2:3). Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defence with the animals endowed with them (Dan. 8:5, 9; 1 Sam. 2:1; 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39; 22:11; Josh. 6:4, 5; Ps. 75:5, 10; 132:17; Luke 1:69, etc.). The expression "horn of salvation," applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Saviour (Luke 1:69). To have the horn "exalted" denotes prosperity and triumph (Ps. 89:17, 24). To "lift up" the horn is to act proudly (Zech. 1:21).

Horns are also the symbol of royal dignity and power (Jer. 48:25; Zech. 1:18; Dan. 8:24).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

horn (Hebrew and Aramaic qeren; keras; for the "ram's horn" (yobhel) of Jos 6 see MUSIC, and for the "inkhorn" of Eze 9 (qeceth) see separate article):

(1) Qeren and keras represent the English "horn" exactly, whether on the animal (Ge 22:13), or used for musical purposes (Jos 6:5; 1Ch 25:5), or for containing a liquid (1Sa 16:1,13; 1Ki 1:39), but in Eze 27:15 the horns of ivory are of course tusks and the "horns" of ebony are small (pointed?) logs. Consequently most of the usages require no explanation.

(2) Both the altar of burnt offering (Ex 27:2; 38:2; compare Eze 43:15) and the incense altar (Ex 30:2; 37:25,26; compare Re 9:13) had "horns," which are explained to be projections "of one piece with" the wooden framework and covered with the brass (or gold) that covered the altar. They formed the most sacred part of the altar and were anointed with the blood of the most solemn sacrifices (only) (Ex 30:10; Le 4:7,18,25,30,34; 16:18; compare Eze 43:20), and according to Le 8:15; 9:9, the first official sacrifices began by anointing them. Consequently cutting off the horns effectually desecrated the altar (Am 3:14), while "sin graven on them" (Jer 17:1) took all efficacy from the sacrifice. On the other hand they offered the highest sanctuary (1Ki 1:50,51; 2:28). Of their symbolism nothing whatever is said, and the eventual origin is quite obscure. "Remnants of a bull-cult" and "miniature sacred towers" have been suggested, but are wholly uncertain. A more likely origin is from an old custom of draping the altar with skins of sacrificed animals (RS, 436). That, however, the "horns" were mere conveniences for binding the sacrificial animals (Ps 118:27, a custom referred to nowhere else in the Old Testament), is most unlikely.

See ALTAR.

(3) The common figurative use of "horn" is taken from the image of battling animals (literal use in Da 8:7, etc.) to denote aggressive strength. So Zedekiah ben Chenaanah illustrates the predicted defeat of the enemies by pushing with iron horns (1Ki 22:11; 2Ch 18:10), while "horns of the wildox" (De 33:17; Ps 22:21; 92:10, the King James Version "unicorn") represent the magnitude of power, and in Zec 1:18-21 "horns" stand for power in general. In Hab 3:4 the "horns coming out of his hand" denote the potency of Yahweh's gesture (the Revised Version (British and American) "rays" may be smoother, but is weak). So to "exalt the horn" (1Sa 2:1,10; Ps 75:4, etc.) is to clothe with strength, and to "cut off the horn" (not to be explained by Am 3:14) is to rob of power (Ps 75:10; Jer 48:25). Hence, the "horn of salvation" in 2Sa 22:3; Ps 18:2; Lu 1:69 is a means of active defense and not a place of sanctuary as in 1Ki 1:50. When, in Da 7:7-24; 8:3,8,9,20,21; Re 13:1; 17:3,7,12,16, many horns are given to the same animal, they figure successive nations or rulers. But the seven horns in Re 5:6; 12:3 denote the completeness of the malevolent or righteous power. In Re 13:11, however, the two horns point only to the external imitation of the harmless lamb, the "horns" being mere stubs.

Burton Scott Easton

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Bony excrescence or projection. 2. Horny matter or material. 3. Trumpet, wind-instrument. 4. Drinking-cup, beaker. 5. (Bot.) Spur. 6. Cusp, curved extremity, prong, wing (of a battle line). II. v. a. 1. Fit or furnish with horns, shape like a horn. 2. Cuckold.

Foolish Dictionary

A sharp point. (See HORNET)

Moby Thesaurus

Klaxon, Mayday, SOS, acoustical network, aerophone, air-raid alarm, alarm, alarm bell, alarm clock, alarm signal, alarum, alert, all clear, alpenhorn, alphorn, althorn, alto horn, ballad horn, baritone, bass horn, beacon, bell, bellyband, blinking light, boiler factory, boiler room, brass choir, brass wind, brass-wind instrument, brasses, bugle, bugle horn, bull-roarer, burglar alarm, buzzer, capacitor speaker, catcall, cherry bomb, cinch, clack, clacker, clapper, clarion, coaxial speaker, cone, cornet, cornet-a-pistons, corno di caccia, cornopean, cracker, cricket, crossover network, crostarie, diaphragm, double reed, double-bell euphonium, dynamic speaker, earphone, electrodynamic speaker, electromagnetic speaker, electrostatic speaker, embouchure, euphonium, excited-field speaker, fiery cross, fire alarm, fire bell, fire flag, firecracker, five-minute gun, flashing light, fog bell, fog signal, foghorn, full-fidelity speaker, gale warning, girt, girth, gore, headphone, headset, helicon, high-fidelity speaker, high-frequency speaker, hooter, hue and cry, hunting horn, hurricane warning, jockey, key, key trumpet, lighthouse, lip, lituus, loudspeaker, low-frequency speaker, lur, mellophone, midrange speaker, monorange speaker, mouthpiece, moving-coil speaker, noisemaker, note of alarm, occulting light, ophicleide, orchestral horn, permanent magnet speaker, pipe, pocket trumpet, police whistle, pommel, post horn, rattle, rattlebox, reed, sackbut, saxhorn, saxtuba, serpent, signal of distress, siren, slide, slide trombone, sliphorn, small-craft warning, snapper, sousaphone, speaker, speaker system, speaker unit, steam whistle, still alarm, stirrup, storm cone, storm flag, storm warning, surcingle, tenor tuba, ticktack, tocsin, tooter, triaxial speaker, tromba, trombone, trumpet, tuba, tusk, tweeter, two-minute gun, upside-down flag, valve, valve trombone, valve trumpet, voice coil, whistle, whizgig, whizzer, wind, wind instrument, woofer