Word
mustang
Phoneticsmus·tang
US/ˈməsˌtæŋ/
UK/mˈʌstæŋ/
Definitions
01wild horse
n. a small, strong wild horse that lives on the plains of North America.
n. a feral horse of the North American West, descended from Spanish-introduced stock and known for its hardiness.
“We saw a small group of mustangs running across the open fields in Nevada.”
“The preservation of the mustang remains a contentious issue between animal rights advocates and ranchers who compete for grazing land.”
American English
Synonyms
02sports car
n. a famous brand of American sports car made by Ford.
n. a high-performance American automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, considered a cultural icon of the 'pony car' class.
“He spent years restoring a classic 1960s mustang in his garage.”
“The roar of the mustang's engine was unmistakable as it accelerated down the coastal highway.”
American English
03military officer
n. an officer in the military who was once an ordinary soldier.
n. a commissioned officer who began their career as an enlisted service member rather than attending a service academy.
“The captain is a mustang who knows exactly what life is like for the new recruits.”
“As a mustang, the lieutenant colonel earned the respect of his battalion by demonstrating a practical understanding of daily operations.”
American English · Slang
Usage
Used primarily within the United States Armed Forces.
Etymology
Borrowed from Mexican Spanish mestengo, from Old Spanish mesteño (“feral animal”) or mestengo (“feral animal”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/mustang