Definition: horsefoot

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Limulus \Lim"u*lus\ (l[i^]m"[-u]*l[u^]s), n.; pl. Limuli
   (-l[imac]). [L., dim. of limus sidelong, askance.] (Zo["o]l.)
   The only existing genus of Merostomata. It includes only a
   few species from the East Indies, and one (Limulus
   polyphemus) from the Atlantic coast of North America. Called
   also Molucca crab, king crab, horseshoe crab, and
   horsefoot.


   3. Mounted soldiery; cavalry; -- used without the plural
      termination; as, a regiment of horse; -- distinguished
      from foot.

            The armies were appointed, consisting of twenty-five
            thousand horse and foot.              --Bacon.

   4. A frame with legs, used to support something; as, a
      clotheshorse, a sawhorse, etc.

   5. A frame of timber, shaped like a horse, on which soldiers
      were made to ride for punishment.

   6. Anything, actual or figurative, on which one rides as on a
      horse; a hobby.

   7. (Mining) A mass of earthy matter, or rock of the same
      character as the wall rock, occurring in the course of a
      vein, as of coal or ore; hence, to take horse -- said of a
      vein -- is to divide into branches for a distance.

   8. (Naut.)
      (a) See Footrope, a.
      (b) A breastband for a leadsman.
      (c) An iron bar for a sheet traveler to slide upon.
      (d) A jackstay. --W. C. Russell. --Totten.

   Note: Horse is much used adjectively and in composition to
         signify of, or having to do with, a horse or horses,
         like a horse, etc.; as, horse collar, horse dealer or
         horse?dealer, horsehoe, horse jockey; and hence, often
         in the sense of strong, loud, coarse, etc.; as,
         horselaugh, horse nettle or horse-nettle, horseplay,
         horse ant, etc.

   Black horse, Blood horse, etc. See under Black, etc.

   Horse aloes, caballine aloes.

   Horse ant (Zo["o]l.), a large ant (Formica rufa); --
      called also horse emmet.

   Horse artillery, that portion of the artillery in which the
      cannoneers are mounted, and which usually serves with the
      cavalry; flying artillery.

   Horse balm (Bot.), a strong-scented labiate plant
      (Collinsonia Canadensis), having large leaves and
      yellowish flowers.

   Horse bean (Bot.), a variety of the English or Windsor bean
      (Faba vulgaris), grown for feeding horses.

   Horse boat, a boat for conveying horses and cattle, or a
      boat propelled by horses.

   Horse bot. (Zo["o]l.) See Botfly, and Bots.

   Horse box, a railroad car for transporting valuable horses,
      as hunters. [Eng.]

   Horse breaker or trainer, one employed in subduing or
      training horses for use.

   Horse car.
      (a) A railroad car drawn by horses. See under Car.
      (b) A car fitted for transporting horses.

   Horse cassia (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Cassia
      Javanica), bearing long pods, which contain a black,
      catharic pulp, much used in the East Indies as a horse
      medicine.

   Horse cloth, a cloth to cover a horse.

   Horse conch (Zo["o]l.), a large, spiral, marine shell of
      the genus Triton. See Triton.

   Horse courser.
      (a) One that runs horses, or keeps horses for racing.
          --Johnson.
      (b) A dealer in horses. [Obs.] --Wiseman.

   Horse crab (Zo["o]l.), the Limulus; -- called also
      horsefoot, horsehoe crab, and king crab.

   Horse crevall['e] (Zo["o]l.), the cavally.

Horsefoot \Horse"foot`\, n.; pl. Horsefeet.
   1. (Bot.) The coltsfoot.

   2. (Zo["o]l.) The Limulus or horseshoe crab.