Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

outspan

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.26 in modern English

Syllables: out-span
IPA

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To release oxen from a harness.

Transitive verb

noun

The place where one releases oxen from a harness.

noun

An area on a farm kept available for travellers to rest and refresh their animals.

Example Sentences

"We had outspanned on in a flat covered with close grass about two feet high…The wagons, four in number, were drawn up off the road two abreast."
"At the outspan or on the road or footpath he shouldered them aside as one walks through standing corn, not aggressively, but with the superb indifference of right and habit unquestioned."

Etymology

From out + span. Compare Afrikaans uitspan.

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

outspans (present, singular) outspanning (participle, present) outspanned (participle, past) outspanned (past) outspans (plural)

Phrases

To yoke oxen

Frequently Paired Words

To yoke oxen

Questions

What does outspan mean?: To release oxen from a harness.
Where does outspan come from?: From out + span. Compare Afrikaans uitspan.

How to pronounce outspan

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “outspan”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “outspan”.
Repeat and practice — Say “outspan” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.