a. and sb. [f. L. equestri-s belonging to a horseman (f. eques horseman, f. equ-us horse) + -AN.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to horse-riding. Also of persons: Skilled in horse-riding.
1656–81. Blount, Glossogr., Equestrian, pertaining to a Horse-man, Knight, or Gentleman, or to an Horse.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 104, ¶ 1. I should be glad if a certain Equestrian Order of Ladies … would take this Subject into their serious Consideration.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, I. IV. (ed. 2), 273. The Equestrian races of the Circus.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 6, ¶ 4. Future candidates for equestrian glory.
1838. Lytton, Alice, II. vi. 81. Evelyn’s inexperience in equestrian matters.
1866. Edgar, Runnymede (1870), 80. Their mettled palfreys, and their equestrian grace.
2. Mounted on a horse. Also of a portrait or statue: Representing a person on horseback.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 59, ¶ 4. The Antique Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. Ibid (1712), No. 435, ¶ 3 (J.). An Equestrian Lady of this Order appeared upon the Plains.
1791. Cowper, Odyss., III. 22. Advance at once to the equestrian chief.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, x. To sit for an equestrian portrait.
3. Rom. Ant. Of or pertaining to the order of Equites or Knights.
1696. Kennett, Rom. Antiq., II. III. i. 97. One that had Four hundred [sestertia] might be taken into the Equestrian Order.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 241. Whatever might be the numbers, of equestrian, or plebeian rank, who perished in the massacre of Rome.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, viii. 78. Cicero challenged his opponents … to find a single instance in which an Equestrian Court could be found to have given a corrupt verdict.
transf. 1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. 1808, VI. 237. A middle sort of men; a sort of equestrian order.
b. Hist. Of or pertaining to the ‘knightly order’ in the states of the Holy Roman Empire.
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., iv. 64. Next day the Equestrian Order went to the House of Senators.
1711. Lond. Gaz., No. 4930/1. The Deputies of the Equestrian Order, were to meet there.
1847. Sarah Austin, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 617. The bishop, chapter and equestrian order, or nobles (Ritterschaft) were, indeed, only preserved from utter destruction by the help of their neighbour.
B. sb. a. One who rides on horseback. b. One who publicly performs on horseback.
1791. ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., v. (1809), 87. Many of his Majesty’s faithful subjects, whose occupations oblige them daily to figure as equestrians.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xiii. He stopped … internally wishing no good to the panting equestrian.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Spectre Tappington (1882), 336. Mr. Peters … indifferent as an equestrian, had acquired some fame as a whip.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, Fate, Wks. (Bohn), II. 328. As the equestrians in the circus throw themselves nimbly from horse to horse.
1873. H. Spencer, Study Sociol., x. 243. The tracts for equestrians having been from time to time increased.
Hence † Equestriana ? nonce-wd. [f. as if Lat.], a female equestrian. Equestrianism, the art or practice of riding on horseback. Equestrianize v. intr., to act as an equestrian. Equestrianizing vbl. sb.
1825. C. M. Westmacott, Engl. Spy, I. 197. See Mrs. M. a superb equestriana.
1872. Globe, 5 Aug. Dislike of equestrianism.
1881. Morning Post, 29 Sept., 5/4. Schule Reiterei…, or riding-school equestrianism.
1887. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 28 Nov., 2/1. Senator — and his daughters equestrianize about Washington daily.
1886. Blackie, in Cassell’s Fam. Mag., Feb., 151. This habit of bracing equestrianising.
