What does shanks pony mean?

shanks’s pony in British English or US and Canadian shanks’s mare (ˈʃæŋksɪz ) noun. informal. one’s own legs as a means of transportation. Collins English Dictionary.

What method of transportation is shanks pony?

Used to refer to one’s own legs and the action of walking as a means of conveyance. ‘you can use the chairlifts, cable cars, or the ever trusty Shanks’s pony!

Where does the term shanks mare come from?

It’s Scottish, dating from the eighteenth century. There was a verb, to shank or to shank it, meaning to go on foot. This is from standard English shank for the part of the leg from the knee to the ankle, which comes from Old English sceanca, the leg bone.

What do you mean by mare?

: a female horse or other equine animal especially when fully mature or of breeding age.

Who was Shanks in Shanks pony?

Shanks’ (or shanks’s) mare (or nag or pony) derives from the name of the lower part of the leg between the knee and ankle – the shank, nowadays more often known as the shin-bone or tibia. This was alluded to in the early form of this term – shank’s nag. This originated in Scotland in the 18th century.

Is mare short for nightmare?

A: No, the two terms aren’t related. The “mare” of “nightmare” comes from mære, an Old English term for an evil spirit that was supposed to settle on a sleeper’s chest and cause a feeling of suffocation. The “mare” that means an adult female horse was a merging of two Old English words: mearh (horse) and mīre (mare).

Who is called mare?

…male horse is called a stallion, the female a mare. A stallion used for breeding is known as a stud. A castrated stallion is commonly called a gelding.

What do you call a beautiful female horse?

If you encounter a mare that has had the procedure, “mare” is still a proper term to use. You can also use the term “spayed mare” to describe the mares gender.

What does mare mean in German?

[mɛəʳ] (= horse) Stute f ; (= donkey) Eselin f.

Why do we call it a nightmare?

The word nightmare is derived from the Old English mare, a mythological demon or goblin who torments others with frightening dreams. The term has no connection with the Modern English word for a female horse. The word nightmare is cognate with the Dutch term nachtmerrie and German Nachtmahr (dated).

What’s the meaning of the phrase’shanks’pony’?

What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘Shanks’ pony’? ‘Shanks’ mare’ or Shanks’ pony’ is a jocular way of referring to a person’s legs, when used as a means of transport. For example, “I’ve missed the last bus, I guess I’ll have to use Shanks’ pony”.

What is the origin of the word shank?

The word shank was used as a verb meaning to travel on foot, according to An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language (1808) by John Jamieson.

Can you use Shanks Pony in Yorkshire Dales?

Used to refer to one’s own legs and the action of walking as a means of conveyance. ‘you can use the chairlifts, cable cars, or the ever trusty Shanks’s pony!’ ‘Visitors to the Yorkshire Dales can plan their journey – by public transport and Shanks’s pony – on the National Park Authority’s website.’

Why did Yuh Doan walk with Shanks Pony?

This we dismissed after attempting to make clear our meaning. After all, mos′ everybody had to walk because yuh doan only get to meet people but ‘ shanks pony ’ was the cheapes′ form of transportation.