Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

charley horse

/t͡ʃɑɹli hoɹs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.25 in modern English

Syllables: charley horse
IPA: /t͡ʃɑɹli hoɹs/

23

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

1

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Synonym of cramp, a painful involuntary muscle contraction, particularly a strong cramp in the torso, arms, or legs.

American usage

noun

A punch in the thigh.

Informal

Example Sentences

"Several years ago, says the Chicago Tribune, Joe Quest, now of the Athletics, gave the name of ‘Charlie horse’ to a peculiar contraction and hardening of the muscles and tendons of the thigh, to which base ball players are especially liable from the sudden starting and stopping in chasing balls, as well as the frequent slides in base running."
"Of course there had been plenty of bruises—one mild case of charley-horse, several dislocated or sprained fingers, a wrenched ankle or two and any number of cuts and scrapes, […]"
"I knew to just keep my mouth shut about it — unless I wanted the word "dummy" to be followed by a charley horse."

Etymology

Uncertain, although first attested in American baseball slang of the 1880s, possibly related to cramps suffered by the pitcher Charles Gardner Radbourn, who was nicknamed "Old Hoss", or possibly from period use of Charlie as a generic name for horses similar to Rover for dogs and Felix for cats.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /t͡ʃɑɹli hoɹs/
British English: /t͡ʃali hɔːs/

Usage

American usage
Informal

Inflected Forms

charley horses (plural) charlie horse (alternative) charley-horse (alternative) charleyhorse (alternative) Charlie-horse (alternative)

Phrases

charley-horsed

Synonyms

cramp charley-horse

Questions

How do you pronounce charley horse?: The recorded pronunciation is /t͡ʃɑɹli hoɹs/.
What does charley horse mean?: Synonym of cramp, a painful involuntary muscle contraction, particularly a strong cramp in the torso, arms, or legs.
Where does charley horse come from?: Uncertain, although first attested in American baseball slang of the 1880s, possibly related to cramps suffered by the pitcher Charles Gardner Radbourn, who was nicknamed "Old Hoss", or possibly from period use of Charlie as a generic name for horses similar to Rover for dogs and Felix for cats.

How to pronounce charley horse

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