bronco

Where does the word "bronco" come from? It comes from Spanish bronco, passing through Mexican Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Bronco’s story begins in Spanish: bronco meant “rough, coarse.” Meaning "rough" or "rude". By 1700s-1800s, the word had taken hold in Mexican Spanish as bronco. Applied to an unbroken, wild horse. It reached English by 1800s as bronco. Spanish 'rough, wild'; used by vaqueros for untamed horses. Today, bronco means a wild or untrained horse, especially in the American West.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval bronco "rough, coarse", meaning "rough" or "rude".
2. Stage 2 · Mexican Spanish · 1700s-1800s bronco "an untamed horse", applied to an unbroken, wild horse.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s bronco "a wild or unbroken horse", Spanish 'rough, wild'; used by vaqueros for untamed horses.