lock horns
noun
1.
one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain ungulate mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.
2.
a similar growth, sometimes of hair, as the median horn or horns on the snout of the rhinoceros, or the tusk of the narwhal.
3.
4.
a process projecting from the head of an animal and suggestive of such a growth, as a feeler, tentacle, or crest.
5.
the bony substance of which such animal growths are composed.
6.
any similar substance, as that forming tortoise shell, hoofs, nails, or corns.
7.
an article made of the material of an animal horn or like substance, as a thimble, spoon, or shoehorn.
8.
any projection or extremity resembling the horn of an animal.
9.
something resembling or suggesting an animal horn: a drinking horn.
10.
a part resembling an animal horn attributed to deities, demons, etc.: the devil's horn.
11.
Usually, horns. the imaginary projections on a cuckold's brow.
12.
Music.
a.
a wind instrument, originally formed from the hollow horn of an animal but now usually made of brass or other metal or plastic.
b.
13.
something used as or resembling such a wind instrument.
14.
Slang. a trumpet.
15.
an instrument for sounding a warning signal: an automobile horn.
16.
Aeronautics. any of certain short, armlike levers on the control surfaces of an airplane.
17.
Radio.
a.
a tube of varying cross section used in some loudspeakers to couple the diaphragm to the sound-transmitting space.
b.
Slang. a loudspeaker.
18.
Slang. a telephone or radiotelephone: I've been on the horn all morning.
19.
the high protuberant part at the front and top of certain saddles; a pommel, especially a high one.
20.
Carpentry. (in a door or window frame) that part of a jamb extending above the head.
21.
one of the curved extremities of a crescent, especially of the crescent moon.
22.
a crescent-shaped tract of land.
23.
a pyramidal mountain peak, especially one having concave faces carved by glaciation.
24.
a symbol of power or strength, as in the Bible: a horn of salvation.
25.
each of the alternatives of a dilemma.
26.
the narrow, more pointed part of an anvil.
27.
28.
Metalworking. a projection at the side of the end of a rolled sheet or strip, caused by unevenness of the roll due to wear.
29.
Horology. (in a lever escapement) either of the two prongs at the end of the lever fork guarding against overbanking when the guard pin is in the crescent.
verb (used with object)
30.
to cuckold.
31.
to butt or gore with the horns.
32.
Shipbuilding. to set up (a frame or bulkhead of a vessel being built) at a proper angle to the keel with due regard to the inclination of the keel on the ways; plumb.
00:10
Lock horns
is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
adjective
Idioms 33.
made of horn.
34.
blow/toot one's own horn, Informal. to publicize or boast about one's abilities or achievements: He's a bright fellow, but likes to blow his own horn too much.
35.
draw/pull in one's horns, to restrain oneself or become less belligerent; retreat: Since he lost so much gambling, he's drawn in his horns a bit.
36.
horn in, Informal. to thrust oneself forward obtrusively; intrude or interrupt: Every time we try to have a private conversation, the boss horns in.
37.
lock horns, to conflict, quarrel, or disagree: The administration and the staff locked horns over the proposed measures.
38.
on the horns of a dilemma, confronted with two equally disagreeable choices.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English horn(e) (noun), Old English horn; cognate with Dutch horen, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish horn, German Horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu cornu, Irish, Welsh corn; akin to Greek kéras horn (see cerat-)
before 900; Middle English horn(e) (noun), Old English horn; cognate with Dutch horen, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish horn, German Horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu cornu, Irish, Welsh corn; akin to Greek kéras horn (see cerat-)
Related forms
horn·ish, adjective
horn·less, adjective
horn·less·ness, noun
horn·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
a device for securing a door, gate, lid, drawer, or the like in position when closed, consisting of a bolt or system of bolts propelled and withdrawn by a mechanism operated by a key, dial, etc.
2.
a contrivance for fastening or securing something.
4.
any device or part for stopping temporarily the motion of a mechanism.
5.
an enclosed chamber in a canal, dam, etc., with gates at each end, for raising or lowering vessels from one level to another by admitting or releasing water.
6.
an air lock or decompression chamber.
7.
complete and unchallenged control; an unbreakable hold: The congresswoman has a lock on the senatorial nomination.
8.
Slang. someone or something certain of success; sure thing: He's a lock to win the championship.
9.
Wrestling. any of various holds, especially a hold secured on the arm, leg, or head: leg lock.
10.
Horology. (in an escapement) the overlap between a tooth of an escape wheel and the surface of the pallet locking it.
11.
Metalworking. a projection or recession in the mating face of a forging die.
verb (used with object)
12.
to fasten or secure (a door, window, building, etc.) by the operation of a lock or locks.
13.
to shut in a place fastened by a lock or locks, as for security or restraint.
14.
to make fast or immovable by or as if by a lock: He locked the steering wheel on his car.
15.
to make fast or immovable, as by engaging parts: to lock the wheels of a wagon.
16.
to join or unite firmly by interlinking or intertwining: to lock arms.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrases 20.
to become locked: This door locks with a key.
21.
to become fastened, fixed, or interlocked: gears that lock into place.
22.
to go or pass by means of a lock or locks, as a vessel.
23.
to construct locks in waterways.
24.
lock in,
a.
to commit unalterably: to lock in the nomination of the party's candidates.
b.
(of an investor) to be unable or unwilling to sell or shift securities.
25.
lock off, to enclose (a waterway) with a lock.
26.
lock on, to track or follow a target or object automatically by radar or other electronic means.
27.
lock out,
a.
to keep out by or as if by a lock.
b.
to subject (employees) to a lockout.
28.
Idioms lock up,
a.
to imprison for a crime.
b.
Printing. to make (type) immovable in a chase by securing the quoins.
c.
to fasten or secure with a lock or locks.
d.
to lock the doors of a house, automobile, etc.
e.
to fasten or fix firmly, as by engaging parts.
29.
lock horns, to come into conflict; clash: to lock horns with a political opponent.
30.
lock, stock, and barrel, completely; entirely; including every part, item, or facet, no matter how small or insignificant: We bought the whole business, lock, stock, and barrel.
31.
under lock and key, securely locked up: The documents were under lock and key.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English loc fastening, bar; cognate with Middle Low German lok, Old High German loh, Old Norse lok a cover, lid, Gothic -luk in usluk opening; akin to Old English lūcan to shut
before 900; Middle English; Old English loc fastening, bar; cognate with Middle Low German lok, Old High German loh, Old Norse lok a cover, lid, Gothic -luk in usluk opening; akin to Old English lūcan to shut
Related forms
lock·less, adjective
self-lock·ing, adjective
well-locked, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To lock horns
Collins
World English Dictionary
horn (hɔːn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | either of a pair of permanent outgrowths on the heads of cattle, antelopes, sheep, etc, consisting of a central bony core covered with layers of keratinRelated: corneous, keratoid |
| 2. | the outgrowth from the nasal bone of a rhinoceros, consisting of a mass of fused hairs |
| 3. | any hornlike projection or process, such as the eyestalk of a snail |
| 4. | the antler of a deer |
| 5. | a. the constituent substance, mainly keratin, of horns, hooves, etc |
| b. (in combination): horn-rimmed spectacles | |
| 6. | a container or device made from this substance or an artificial substitute: a shoe horn; a drinking horn |
| 7. | an object or part resembling a horn in shape, such as the points at either end of a crescent, the point of an anvil, the pommel of a saddle, or a cornucopia |
| 8. | a primitive musical wind instrument made from the horn of an animal |
| 9. | hunting horn French horn See cor anglais any musical instrument consisting of a pipe or tube of brass fitted with a mouthpiece, with or without valves |
| 10. | slang jazz any wind instrument |
| 11. | a. a device for producing a warning or signalling noise |
| b. (in combination): a foghorn | |
| 12. | (usually plural) the hornlike projection attributed to certain devils, deities, etc |
| 13. | (usually plural) the imaginary hornlike parts formerly supposed to appear on the forehead of a cuckold |
| 14. | Also called: horn balance an extension of an aircraft control surface that projects in front of the hinge providing aerodynamic assistance in moving the control |
| 15. | a. acoustic horn, Also called: exponential horn a hollow conical device coupled to the diaphragm of a gramophone to control the direction and quality of the sound |
| b. any such device used to spread or focus sound, such as the device attached to an electrical loudspeaker in a public address system | |
| c. Also called: horn antenna a microwave aerial, formed by flaring out the end of a waveguide | |
| 16. | geology another name for pyramidal peak |
| 17. | a stretch of land or water shaped like a horn |
| 18. | slang (Brit) an erection of the penis |
| 19. | Bible a symbol of power, victory, or success: in my name shall his horn be exalted |
| 20. | (US), (Canadian) blow one's horn Brit equivalent: blow one's own trumpet to boast about oneself; brag |
| 21. | draw in one's horns, pull in one's horns |
| a. to suppress or control one's feelings, esp of anger, enthusiasm, or passion | |
| b. to withdraw a previous statement | |
| c. to economize | |
| 22. | on the horns of a dilemma |
| a. in a situation involving a choice between two equally unpalatable alternatives | |
| b. in an awkward situation | |
| —vb | |
| 23. | to provide with a horn or horns |
| 24. | to gore or butt with a horn |
| Related: corneous, keratoid | |
| [Old English; related to Old Norse horn, Gothic haurn, Latin cornu horn] | |
| 'hornless | |
| —adj | |
| 'hornlike | |
| —adj | |
| Horn (hɔːn) | |
| —n | |
| Cape See Cape Horn | |
| lock1 (lɒk) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a device fitted to a gate, door, drawer, lid, etc, to keep it firmly closed and often to prevent access by unauthorized persons |
| 2. | a similar device attached to a machine, vehicle, etc, to prevent use by unauthorized persons: a steering lock |
| 3. | a. a section of a canal or river that may be closed off by gates to control the water level and the raising and lowering of vessels that pass through it |
| b. (as modifier): a lock gate | |
| 4. | the jamming, fastening, or locking together of parts |
| 5. | (Brit) the extent to which a vehicle's front wheels will turn to the right or left: this car has a good lock |
| 6. | a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun |
| 7. | informal (US), (Canadian) a person or thing that is certain to win or to succeed: she is a lock for the Academy Award |
| 8. | lock, stock, and barrel completely; entirely |
| 9. | any wrestling hold in which a wrestler seizes a part of his opponent's body and twists it or otherwise exerts pressure upon it |
| 10. | rugby Also called: lock forward either of two players who make up the second line of the scrum and apply weight to the forwards in the front line |
| 11. | a gas bubble in a hydraulic system or a liquid bubble in a pneumatic system that stops or interferes with the fluid flow in a pipe, capillary, etc: an air lock |
| —vb | |
| 12. | to fasten (a door, gate, etc) or (of a door, etc) to become fastened with a lock, bolt, etc, so as to prevent entry or exit |
| 13. | (tr) to secure (a building) by locking all doors, windows, etc |
| 14. | to fix or become fixed together securely or inextricably |
| 15. | to become or cause to become rigid or immovable: the front wheels of the car locked |
| 16. | ( |
| 17. | (tr) to furnish (a canal) with locks |
| 18. | (tr) to move (a vessel) through a system of locks |
| 19. | lock horns (esp of two equally matched opponents) to become engaged in argument or battle |
| 20. | lock the stable door after the horse has bolted, lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen to take precautions after harm has been done |
| [Old English loc; related to Old Norse lok] | |
| 'lockable1 | |
| —adj | |
| lock2 (lɒk) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a strand, curl, or cluster of hair |
| 2. | a tuft or wisp of wool, cotton, etc |
| 3. | literary chiefly (plural) hair, esp when curly or fine |
| [Old English loc; related to Old Frisian lok, Old Norse lokkr lock of wool] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
lock
"means of fastening," O.E. loc "bolt, fastening, enclosure," from P.Gmc. *lokom/*lukom (cf. O.N. lok "fastening, lock," Goth. usluks "opening," O.H.G. loh "dungeon," Ger. Loch "opening, hole," Du. luck "shutter, trapdoor"). "The great diversity of meaning in the Teut. words seems to indicate two or more
independent but formally identical substantival formations from the root." The river sense is from c.1300, on notion of "barrier, enclosure." Wrestling sense is from c.1600. The verb is c.1300, from O.E. lucan "to lock, to close" (class II strong verb; past tense leac, pp. locen). Slang lock horns "fight" is from 1839. Lock-up "detention cell for offenders" is from 1839.
lock
"tress of hair," from O.E. locc, from P.Gmc. *lukkoz (cf. O.N. lokkr, O.Fris., Du. lok, Ger. Locke "lock of hair"), from PIE *lugnos-, from base *lug- "to bend, to twist" (cf. Gk. lygos "pliant twig, withe," Lith. lugnas "flexible").
horn
O.E. horn "horn of an animal," also "wind instrument" (originally made from animal horns), from P.Gmc. *khurnaz (cf. Ger. Horn, Du. horen, Goth. haurn), from PIE *ker- "uppermost part of the body, head, horn, top, summit" (cf. Gk. karnon, L. cornu, Skt. srngam "horn"). Reference to car horns is first
recorded 1901. A hornpipe was originally a hornepype (c.1400), a musical instrument with bell and mouthpiece made of horn, later (c.1485) "dance associated with sailors" (originally performed to music from such an instrument). To horn in "intrude" is attested by 1880, originally cowboy slang, on the notion of buffalo behavior.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
horn (hôrn)
n.
One of the hard, usually permanent structures projecting from the head of certain mammals, such as cattle, consisting of a bony core covered with a sheath of keratinous material.
A hard protuberance that is similar to or suggestive of a horn.
The hard, smooth keratinous material forming the outer covering of animal horns.
Any of the major subdivisions of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral hemisphere of the brain: the frontal horn, occipital horn, and temporal horn. Also called cornu.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
horn  (hôrn) Pronunciation Key
|
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
horn definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Easton
Bible Dictionary
Horn definition
Trumpets were at first horns perforated at the tip, used for various purposes (Josh. 6:4,5). Flasks or vessels were made of horn (1 Sam. 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39). But the word is used also metaphorically to denote the projecting corners of the altar of burnt offerings (Ex. 27:2) and of incense (30:2). The horns of the altar of burnt offerings were to be smeared with the blood of the slain bullock (29:12; Lev. 4:7-18). The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28). The word also denotes the peak or summit of a hill (Isa. 5:1, where the word "hill" is the rendering of the same Hebrew word). This word is used metaphorically also for strength (Deut. 33:17) and honour (Job 16:15; Lam. 2:3). Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defence with the animals endowed with them (Dan. 8:5, 9; 1 Sam. 2:1; 16:1, 13; 1 Kings 1:39; 22:11; Josh. 6:4, 5; Ps. 75:5, 10; 132:17; Luke 1:69, etc.). The expression "horn of salvation," applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Saviour (Luke 1:69). To have the horn "exalted" denotes prosperity and triumph (Ps. 89:17, 24). To "lift up" the horn is to act proudly (Zech. 1:21). Horns are also the symbol of royal dignity and power (Jer. 48:25; Zech. 1:18; Dan. 8:24).
Lock definition
The Hebrews usually secured their doors by bars of wood or iron (Isa. 45:2; 1 Kings 4:3). These were the locks originally used, and were opened and shut by large keys applied through an opening in the outside (Judg. 3:24). (See KEY.) Lock of hair (Judg. 16:13, 19; Ezek. 8:3; Num. 6:5, etc.).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
lock horns
Become embroiled in conflict, as in At the town meeting Kate and Steve locked horns over increasing the property tax. This expression alludes to how stags and bulls use their horns to fight one another. [First half of 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Nearby Words
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