inspan, verb
/ˈɪnspæn/
- Forms:
- Show more Also enspan, inspand, inspann.
- Origin:
- Dutch
- Note:
- Cf. outspan verb.
1.
a. intransitive. To prepare for a journey (by harnessing draught animals to a vehicle); to span in, see span verb sense 2 b.
1827 G. Thompson Trav. 86A storm of snow and hail raging.., we delayed inspanning till it had blown past.
1976 V. Rosenberg Sunflower 13After the last Sunday service the farmers would inspan and disappear in different direction, leaving no trace behind them but their wagon tracks and a littered market place.
b. transitive. To yoke or harness (draught animals) to a vehicle; to ready (a vehicle) for travel by harnessing draught animals to it; transferred sense, to make (oneself) ready for a journey; to couple (a tractor or other towing vehicle) to a trailer; span verb sense 1 b; to span in, see span verb sense 2 a.
1834 T.H. Bowker Journal. 25 Dec.Arrive at [M]erais after sunset find the waggons inspanned ready for going away.
1991 F. le Roux in S. Afr. Panorama Jan.–Feb. 83A sturdy and powerful tractor was ‘inspanned’ to pull the trailer.
2. transitive. figurative. To enlist the help of (someone); to ‘round (someone) up’; to make use of (resources); to span in, see span verb sense 2 c.
1883 E.L. Price Letter. 25 JuneI think I must inspan him tomorrow to bake me a loaf of bread for he knows how to do it.
1990 M. Kentridge Unofficial War 166Vlok..scoffed at the efforts of clergymen involved in peace initiatives, and said they had been ‘inspanned by the ANC-SACP to do their devilish work’.
To prepare for a journey (by harnessing draught animals to a vehicle); to span in, see span verb sense 2 b.
To yoke or harness (draught animals) to a vehicle; to ready (a vehicle) for travel by harnessing draught animals to it; transferred sense, to make (oneself) ready for a journey; to couple (a tractor or other towing vehicle) to a trailer; span verb sense 1 b; to span in, see span verb sense 2 a.
To enlist the help of (someone); to ‘round (someone) up’; to make use of (resources); to span in, see span verb sense 2 c.
- Derivatives:
- Hence inspan noun obsolete, and inspanning verbal noun, the preparations for a journey, especially the harnessing of draught animals to vehicles; also attributive.1849 E.D.H.E. Napier Excursions in Sn Afr. II. 12A ‘spann’ means, I believe, in Dutch, a team of oxen, or other draught animals; hence the terms ‘inspanning’ and ‘outspanning,’ or yoking and unyoking.1986 S. Afr. Panorama Feb. 16Seldom before have oxen been the cause of so much interest with everyone in the camp taking a close look at the inspanning process.
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