From Middle English horsscho, horssho, horscho, hors schoo, equivalent to horse + shoe.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈhɔːs.ʃuː/, /ˈhɔː.ʃuː/
• (America) IPA: /ˈhɔːɹs.ʃuː/, /ˈhɔːɹ.ʃuː/

horseshoe (plural horseshoes)

1. The U-shaped shoe of a horse, now typically made of metal; by extension, a representation of this used to play the game horseshoes, hung as a luck charm, etc.
   • 1887, David A. Wells, "The Economic Disturbances since 1873", III, Popular Science 31 (no. 37): 595

     And what has been thus affirmed of other leading commodities; the blacksmith, for example, no longer making, but buying his horseshoes, nails, nuts, and bolts;

   • 1997, Francis Edward Abernethy, editor, Texas toys and games, page 142:

     Each player has a turn at tossing his horseshoes, one at a time, at the stob opposite him. His opponent then throws his horseshoes.

2. The U shape of a horseshoe.
   • 2005, Stuart H. James, Jon J. Nordby (editors), Forensic science: an introduction to scientific and investigative techniques, page 88:

     If there are no missing teeth and tooth alignment is good, two opposing well-defined horseshoes are seen. If, however, your denitition is mal-aligned or is missing anterior teeth, this pattern too should be reflected in the bite mark.

3. (bodybuilding, slang) A well-developed set of triceps brachii muscles.
   • 2004, Ellington Darden, The New High-Intensity Training, page 58:

     The lateral head of your triceps forms the outside of the horseshoe, the long head forms the inside, the medial head lies beneath the long head, and the tendon occupies the flat space in the middle.

4. (logic) The symbol ⊃.
5. (Midland US) An open-faced sandwich originating from Springfield, Illinois, consisting of thick-sliced toasted bread, often Texas toast, a hamburger patty, French fries, and a cheese sauce.

• French: fer à cheval
• German: Hufeisen, Beschlag
• Italian: ferro di cavallo
• Portuguese: ferradura
• Russian: подко́ва
• Spanish: herradura

• French: fer à cheval
• Italian: ferro di cavallo
• Portuguese: ferradura
• Russian: подко́ва
• Spanish: herradura

• Russian: подмно́жество

horseshoe (horseshoes, present participle horseshoeing; simple past and past participle horseshoed)

1. (transitive) To apply horseshoes to (a horse).

• (to apply horseshoes) shoe

• French: ferrer
• German: beschlagen
• Portuguese: ferrar
• Russian: подко́вывать
• Spanish: herrar