gelding

noun

geld·​ing ˈgel-diŋ How to pronounce gelding (audio)
1
: a castrated animal
specifically : a castrated male horse
2
archaic : eunuch

Examples of gelding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Earlier in the day, Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding, and Freezing Point, a 3-year-old colt, were injured in their races and later euthanized, becoming the sixth and seventh horses to have died at the track in recent days. Beth Harris, Anchorage Daily News, 7 May 2023 Juan Hernandez will ride the 4-year-old gelding, who is winless since taking the Grade I Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last Dec. 3. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023 In the final race of the day, a non-Breeders’ Cup race, Bus Buzz, a 3-year-old gelding, was pulled up by jockey Edwin Maldonado in mid-stretch and the horse was vanned off. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023 The 3-year-old gelding walked onto the horse ambulance and was evaluated at the track and then shipped to an equine hospital in Lexington, where the horse was euthanized. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2023 Creme Fraiche, ridden by Eddie Maple, becomes the first gelding to win the Belmont Stakes, beating Stephan’s Odyssey by a half-length. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2022 D’Amato’s Count Again (Umberto Rispoli) finished fourth in the Eddie Read in the 8-year-old gelding’s first start since winning the 2022 Shoemaker Mile. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023 Hernandez was aboard Carmelita’s Man in the 6-year-old gelding’s victory in the California Dreamin’. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2023 Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, died over the weekend, the gelding’s owners announced on social media. Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 17 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gelding.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old Norse geldingr, from gelda

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gelding was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gelding

Cite this Entry

“Gelding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gelding. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gelding

noun
geld·​ing ˈgel-diŋ How to pronounce gelding (audio)
: a castrated animal
especially : a castrated male horse

Medical Definition

gelding

noun
geld·​ing ˈgel-diŋ How to pronounce gelding (audio)
: a castrated animal
specifically : a castrated male horse

More from Merriam-Webster on gelding

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