What does horseshoe mean?
Word: Horseshoe
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Horseshoe means a U-shaped piece of iron that is nailed to the bottom of a horse's hoof. A shape that curves round like one can also be called a horseshoe.
How do you spell horseshoe?
Syllables: horse - shoe
Tricky part: The s sound runs straight into the sh, so many pupils drop the silent e in the middle. It is there, which gives the word two silent e's.
Watch out for: horshoe, horsshoe
Memory tip: Picture two quiet e's guarding the word: one stands in the middle just before the sh, the other at the very end.
Horseshoe in a sentence
Example 1: Zoya found an old rusty horseshoe while digging in the vegetable patch.
Example 2: The tables were set out in a horseshoe so everyone could see the speaker.
Example 3: Each horseshoe clinked on the cobbled street as the cart rolled past.
Fun Fact
Nailing on a horseshoe does not hurt the horse, because the nails go into the tough outer wall of the hoof, which has no nerves, rather like the tip of a fingernail.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these compound words is spelt correctly. Choose it:
a) haystak
b) hoarseshoe
c) blacksmyth
d) wheelbarrow
Show answer
d) wheelbarrow. Hoarse describes a rough voice and does not belong in the word for a horse's shoe; blacksmith ends in ith and haystack in ck.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
horseshooe
a) o
b) s
c) h
d) e
Show answer
a) o. The word finishes with shoe, and shoe has just one o, so the doubled o must go.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) horseshoe
b) stirup
c) saddle
d) paddock
Show answer
b) stirup. Stirrup doubles the r straight after the short i.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why does a horse that works on hard roads usually wear horseshoes?
a) to stop flies landing on its legs
b) to help it run faster in races
c) to keep it warm on cold nights
d) to stop its hooves wearing down
Show answer
d) to stop its hooves wearing down
2. Who is the person trained to fit a horseshoe?
a) a florist
b) a cobbler
c) a jeweller
d) a farrier
Show answer
d) a farrier
