Cimmaron

/sɪˈmɑroʊn/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or denoting wild or feral livestock, especially horses or cattle that have escaped domestication in the American Southwest.

Etymology

From Spanish cimarrón, meaning wild or savage, possibly derived from Taíno (Caribbean indigenous language) cimarrón. This word entered English through the American frontier describing the wild herds roaming the plains.

Kelly Says

Cimarron horses were the backbone of the American West—many descended from Spanish colonial stock that escaped and thrived on the plains. Modern mustangs are probably descended from these wild cimarrons, making them an accidental gift from European colonization!

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