horseshoe
n.a U-shaped piece of metal that people nail to a horse's hoof to protect it. It is also a symbol that many people believe brings good luck.
n.a U-shaped protective plate, typically made of iron or steel, nailed to the underside of a horse's hoof. Often used as a symbol of good fortune or as a piece of equipment in a traditional throwing game.
“The blacksmith fits a new horseshoe to the horse.”
“The farmer hung a rusty horseshoe above the barn door to bring the family good luck.”
“While modern horseshoes are often made of aluminum or synthetic materials for performance, the traditional iron version remains the standard for heavy labor and protection on rocky terrain.”
Often used in the plural when referring to the game or the set of shoes for a single animal.
From Middle English horsscho, horssho, horscho, hors schoo, equivalent to horse + shoe.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.