equison

== English == === Alternative forms === æquison (obsolete) === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from Latin aequisonus, from aequus (“equal”) in combination with sonus (“sounding”). ==== Noun ==== equison (plural equisons) (music, rare) An equisonant note. === Etymology 2 === From Latin equīsō (“stable-boy, equison”), from equus (“horse”). ==== Pronunciation ==== enPR: ĕkwīʹzən, IPA(key): /ɛˈkwaɪzən/ ==== Noun ==== equison (plural equisons) (archaic) Groom, ostler, equerry, jockey. 1824–1829: Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume 1?, page 13? (1891 republication) Once indeed, I confess it, I was very near falling as low: words passed between me and the more favored man of letters, who announces to the world the Works and Days of Newmarket, — the competitors at its games, their horses, their equisons and colours, and the attendant votaries of that goddess who readily leaves Paphos or Amathus for this annual celebration. 1893: John Hankins Wallace, Wallace’s Monthly: An Illustrated Magazine Devoted to Domesticated Animal Nature, volume 19, page 497 (B. Singerly) In France escuere is a stable; in England esquire was the ‛Squire of the stable. Equison was an old name for a horse jockey. We have equestrian, equestrienne, equitant, equitation, equitancy, for riders and riding; equine and equinal, pertaining to the horse; equivorous, horse-flesh eating; equinia, glanders. Equipage, as applied now to a carriage, is not derived from equus, as it might at first sight be supposed. === References === “equison²” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989]