pony
pony Lexical Profile
pony Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small horse, typically defined as one belonging to a breed that matures at under 14.2 hands (58 inches) at the withers.
"The children learned to ride at the equestrian center using a gentle Shetland pony."
A small glass or a standard small measure of an alcoholic beverage, particularly beer or liqueur.
"He ordered a pony of pale ale to accompany his meal."
A literal translation of a foreign language text or a specialized study guide, often used surreptitiously by students.
"In the nineteenth century, students sometimes relied on a pony to help them decipher complex Latin assignments."
• verb
North American To pay or contribute money to settle a debt, bill, or obligation (usually followed by 'up').
"After losing the friendly wager, he had to pony up fifty dollars."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a verb, 'pony' is almost entirely restricted to the phrasal verb 'pony up', meaning to pay money, often reluctantly.
• Rhymes for pony
Word Origin & Etymology
Originating in the mid-17th century from the Scottish word 'powny', likely derived from the obsolete French 'poulenet', a diminutive of 'poulain' (foal), ultimately from Late Latin 'pullanus'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.