draw ones horns


one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain ungulate mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.
a similar growth, sometimes of hair, as the median horn or horns on the snout of the rhinoceros, or the tusk of the narwhal.
a process projecting from the head of an animal and suggestive of such a growth, as a feeler, tentacle, or crest.
the bony substance of which such animal growths are composed.
any similar substance, as that forming tortoise shell, hoofs, nails, or corns.
an article made of the material of an animal horn or like substance, as a thimble, spoon, or shoehorn.
any projection or extremity resembling the horn of an animal.
something resembling or suggesting an animal horn: a drinking horn.
a part resembling an animal horn attributed to deities, demons, etc.: the devil's horn.
Usually, horns. the imaginary projections on a cuckold's brow.
a wind instrument, originally formed from the hollow horn of an animal but now usually made of brass or other metal or plastic.
something used as or resembling such a wind instrument.
Slang. a trumpet.
an instrument for sounding a warning signal: an automobile horn.
Aeronautics. any of certain short, armlike levers on the control surfaces of an airplane.
a tube of varying cross section used in some loudspeakers to couple the diaphragm to the sound-transmitting space.
Slang. a loudspeaker.
Slang. a telephone or radiotelephone: I've been on the horn all morning.
the high protuberant part at the front and top of certain saddles; a pommel, especially a high one.
Carpentry. (in a door or window frame) that part of a jamb extending above the head.
one of the curved extremities of a crescent, especially of the crescent moon.
a crescent-shaped tract of land.
a pyramidal mountain peak, especially one having concave faces carved by glaciation.
a symbol of power or strength, as in the Bible: a horn of salvation.
each of the alternatives of a dilemma.
the narrow, more pointed part of an anvil.
Metalworking. a projection at the side of the end of a rolled sheet or strip, caused by unevenness of the roll due to wear.
Horology. (in a lever escapement) either of the two prongs at the end of the lever fork guarding against overbanking when the guard pin is in the crescent.
verb (used with object)
to cuckold.
to butt or gore with the horns.
Shipbuilding. to set up (a frame or bulkhead of a vessel being built) at a proper angle to the keel with due regard to the inclination of the keel on the ways; plumb.
made of horn.
blow/toot one's own horn, Informal. to publicize or boast about one's abilities or achievements: He's a bright fellow, but likes to blow his own horn too much.
draw/pull in one's horns, to restrain oneself or become less belligerent; retreat: Since he lost so much gambling, he's drawn in his horns a bit.
horn in, Informal. to thrust oneself forward obtrusively; intrude or interrupt: Every time we try to have a private conversation, the boss horns in.
lock horns, to conflict, quarrel, or disagree: The administration and the staff locked horns over the proposed measures.
on the horns of a dilemma, confronted with two equally disagreeable choices.

before 900; Middle English horn(e) (noun), Old English horn; cognate with Dutch horen, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish horn, German Horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu cornu, Irish, Welsh corn; akin to Greek kéras horn (see cerat-)

hornish, adjective
hornless, adjective
hornlessness, noun
hornlike, adjective
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World English Dictionary
horn (hɔːn)
1.  either of a pair of permanent outgrowths on the heads of cattle, antelopes, sheep, etc, consisting of a central bony core covered with layers of keratinRelated: corneous, keratoid
2.  the outgrowth from the nasal bone of a rhinoceros, consisting of a mass of fused hairs
3.  any hornlike projection or process, such as the eyestalk of a snail
4.  the antler of a deer
5.  a.  the constituent substance, mainly keratin, of horns, hooves, etc
 b.  (in combination): horn-rimmed spectacles
6.  a container or device made from this substance or an artificial substitute: a shoe horn; a drinking horn
7.  an object or part resembling a horn in shape, such as the points at either end of a crescent, the point of an anvil, the pommel of a saddle, or a cornucopia
8.  a primitive musical wind instrument made from the horn of an animal
9.  hunting horn French horn See cor anglais any musical instrument consisting of a pipe or tube of brass fitted with a mouthpiece, with or without valves
10.  slang jazz any wind instrument
11.  a.  a device for producing a warning or signalling noise
 b.  (in combination): a foghorn
12.  (usually plural) the hornlike projection attributed to certain devils, deities, etc
13.  (usually plural) the imaginary hornlike parts formerly supposed to appear on the forehead of a cuckold
14.  Also called: horn balance an extension of an aircraft control surface that projects in front of the hinge providing aerodynamic assistance in moving the control
15.  a.  acoustic horn, Also called: exponential horn a hollow conical device coupled to the diaphragm of a gramophone to control the direction and quality of the sound
 b.  any such device used to spread or focus sound, such as the device attached to an electrical loudspeaker in a public address system
 c.  Also called: horn antenna a microwave aerial, formed by flaring out the end of a waveguide
16.  geology another name for pyramidal peak
17.  a stretch of land or water shaped like a horn
18.  slang (Brit) an erection of the penis
19.  Bible a symbol of power, victory, or success: in my name shall his horn be exalted
20.  (US), (Canadian) blow one's horn Brit equivalent: blow one's own trumpet to boast about oneself; brag
21.  draw in one's horns, pull in one's horns
 a.  to suppress or control one's feelings, esp of anger, enthusiasm, or passion
 b.  to withdraw a previous statement
 c.  to economize
22.  on the horns of a dilemma
 a.  in a situation involving a choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives
 b.  in an awkward situation
23.  to provide with a horn or horns
24.  to gore or butt with a horn
Related: corneous, keratoid
[Old English; related to Old Norse horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu horn]

Horn (hɔːn)
Cape See Cape Horn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

O.E. horn "horn of an animal," also "wind instrument" (originally made from animal horns), from P.Gmc. *khurnaz (cf. Ger. Horn, Du. horen, Goth. haurn), from PIE *ker- "uppermost part of the body, head, horn, top, summit" (cf. Gk. karnon, L. cornu, Skt. srngam "horn"). Reference to car horns is first
recorded 1901. A hornpipe was originally a hornepype (c.1400), a musical instrument with bell and mouthpiece made of horn, later (c.1485) "dance associated with sailors" (originally performed to music from such an instrument). To horn in "intrude" is attested by 1880, originally cowboy slang, on the notion of buffalo behavior.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

horn (hôrn)

  1. One of the hard, usually permanent structures projecting from the head of certain mammals, such as cattle, consisting of a bony core covered with a sheath of keratinous material.

  2. A hard protuberance that is similar to or suggestive of a horn.

  3. The hard, smooth keratinous material forming the outer covering of animal horns.

  4. Any of the major subdivisions of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral hemisphere of the brain: the frontal horn, occipital horn, and temporal horn. Also called cornu.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
horn   (hôrn)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Either of the bony growths projecting from the upper part of the head of certain hoofed mammals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. The horns of these animals are never shed, and they consist of bone covered by keratin.

  2. A hard growth that looks like a horn, such as an antler or a growth on the head of a giraffe or rhinoceros. Unlike true horns, antlers are shed yearly and have a velvety covering, and the horns of a rhinoceros are made not of bone but of hairy skin fused with keratin.

  3. The hard durable substance that forms the outer covering of true horns. It consists of keratin.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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Slang Dictionary

horn definition

  1. n.
    the nose. : He scratched his horn with his pencil and opened his mouth to speak.
  2. n.
    the telephone. : She's on the horn now. What'll I tell her?
  3. tv.
    to sniff or snorta narcotic. (Drugs.) : Ernie horned a line and paused for a minute.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw-Hill Education.
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Bible Dictionary

Horn definition

Trumpets were at first horns perforated at the tip, used for various purposes (Josh. 6:4,5). Flasks or vessels were made of horn (1 Sam. 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39). But the word is used also metaphorically to denote the projecting corners of the altar of burnt offerings (Ex. 27:2) and of incense (30:2). The horns of the altar of burnt offerings were to be smeared with the blood of the slain bullock (29:12; Lev. 4:7-18). The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28). The word also denotes the peak or summit of a hill (Isa. 5:1, where the word "hill" is the rendering of the same Hebrew word). This word is used metaphorically also for strength (Deut. 33:17) and honour (Job 16:15; Lam. 2:3). Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defence with the animals endowed with them (Dan. 8:5, 9; 1 Sam. 2:1; 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39; 22:11; Josh. 6:4, 5; Ps. 75:5, 10; 132:17; Luke 1:69, etc.). The expression "horn of salvation," applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Saviour (Luke 1:69). To have the horn "exalted" denotes prosperity and triumph (Ps. 89:17, 24). To "lift up" the horn is to act proudly (Zech. 1:21). Horns are also the symbol of royal dignity and power (Jer. 48:25; Zech. 1:18; Dan. 8:24).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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