Neighing

/ˈneɪɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Making the characteristic high, loud sound that horses make.

Etymology

From Old English 'hnægan', imitative origin representing the actual sound a horse produces; related to Old High German 'hneigon', true onomatopoeia.

Kelly Says

Neighing is wonderfully imitative—in Old English it was 'hnægan' with that breathy H-sound that almost sounds like a horse breathing, proving the word tries to capture the actual sound.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.