horseshoe

/ˌhɔr(s)ˈʃu/

/ˈhɔsʃu/

Other forms: horseshoes

When you think of a horseshoe, don't picture a shoe with a sole and laces! Instead, a horseshoe is an arc-shaped piece of metal that gets nailed into the horse's hoof.

Ever since humans started using horses for riding, pulling carts, and working on farms, they've found ways to guard their hooves against wear and injury. Horseshoes can be nailed onto the thick, fingernail-like hoof, or glued on. Some people consider horseshoes to be lucky symbols as well, while others enjoy the game called horseshoes, which involves throwing large horseshoes toward a metal stake in the ground.

Definitions of horseshoe

1. noun

   U-shaped plate nailed to underside of horse's hoof
   synonyms: shoe

   type of:

   plate, scale, shell

   a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
2. noun

   game equipment consisting of an open ring of iron used in playing horseshoes
   type of:

   game equipment

   equipment or apparatus used in playing a game
3. verb

   equip (a horse) with a horseshoe or horseshoes
   type of:

   equip, fit, fit out, outfit

   provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose