outspan
/ˈaʊtˌspæn/
verb
- To unharness or unhitch animals, especially oxen, from a wagon or plow, usually to rest them.
- After a long day of travel, the farmer stopped to outspan the oxen near the river.
- In the old days, settlers would outspan their animals at midday to avoid the heat.
- The travelers outspanned their team of horses to let them graze.
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noun
- A place where animals are unharnessed to rest, especially in southern Africa.
- The wagon train stopped at a familiar outspan for the night.
- The outspan was marked by a large tree where travelers often rested.
- They set up camp at a shady outspan near the watering hole.