mustang

noun

1. 1

   A small, hardy, naturalized (feral) horse of the North American west.

   The mustang pony, the invariable companion of the inhabitant of the prairie, whether he is rich or poor, is a little creature, apparently narrow-chested, and small across the loins.

   Having ridden a distance of two or three miles, Garey slackened his pace, and put the mustang to a slow walk.

2. 2

   slangA merchant marine who joined the U.S. Navy as a commissioned officer during the American Civil War.

   He is a product of the merchant marine and is one of the officers called "Mustangs" who entered the navy during the Civil War.

   He was the son of a famous artist, and was what we termed a "mustang" officer, who had come into the navy from the merchant service during the Civil War.

3. 3

   slangA commissioned officer who started military service as an enlisted person.

   […] and the chief engineer is a "mustang" — that is, an officer who has risen from the ranks of enlisted men.

   Mustang— Officer who came up through the ranks. None better.

verb

1. 1

   To hunt mustangs (wild horses), either for military use or for slaughter as pet food.

Forms

plural

mustangs

past tense

mustanged

past participle

mustanged

present participle

mustanging

third person singular

mustangs