Definition

A type of cattle that comes from northern England, known for having short horns or sometimes no horns, and can be red, white, or a mix of these colors.

Example

The farmer decided to raise a herd of Shorthorn cattle for their high-quality beef.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a shorthorn cow before?

Yeah, I saw some at the fair last year, they looked really unique.

I heard they are great for both beef and milk production.

That's right! They are quite versatile animals.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Shorthorn is formed from "short" (from Old English "sceort", meaning not long) and "horn" (from Old English "horn", meaning a hard, pointed projection). The word "shorthorn" refers to a breed of cattle characterized by their short horns.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'not long' ('short') and has a 'hard projection' ('horn') — that's why shorthorn describes a breed of cattle with short horns.

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