Definition

A person who is skilled at riding horses that are not well trained, or a member of a specific cavalry unit from the Spanish-American War led by Theodore Roosevelt.

Example

The roughriders bravely charged into battle during the Spanish-American War.

Conversation

Have you ever heard about the roughriders from the Spanish-American War?

Yeah, they were led by Theodore Roosevelt, right?

Exactly! I read that they were skilled horse riders and broke many wild horses.

That sounds intense! I can't imagine riding untrained horses like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Roughrider is formed from "rough" (from Old English *ruh*, meaning uneven or coarse) and "rider" (from Old English *ridan*, meaning to ride). The term originally referred to someone who rides in a rough or rugged manner, often associated with cavalry or adventurous riding.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who rides in a 'coarse' or 'uneven' way — 'rough' describes the manner, and 'rider' indicates the person who rides.

Visually Confused Words