mustang

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

Mustang’s story begins in Spanish: mesta meant “stockmen's guild.” The powerful guild of Castilian sheep and cattle owners, which rounded up stray animals. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Mexican Spanish as mesteño. A stray, ownerless animal, belonging to the 'mesta'. It reached English by 1800s as mustang. First recorded in 1808; descended from horses brought by the Spanish. Today, mustang means a small wild or half-wild horse of the American West.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval mesta "stockmen's guild", the powerful guild of Castilian sheep and cattle owners, which rounded up stray animals.
2. Stage 2 · Mexican Spanish · 1600s mesteño "stray animal", a stray, ownerless animal, belonging to the 'mesta'.
3. Stage 3 · American English · 1800s mustang "wild horse", first recorded in 1808; descended from horses brought by the Spanish.