outspan
verb, noun
outspan is spelled O-U-T-S-P-A-N: 7 letters. It appears about once in every 55 million words in written English, the 231,291st most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, outspan means “To release oxen from a harness” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in outspan?
| Letters | 7: O-U-T-S-P-A-N |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 55 million words; the 231,291st most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is outspan?
Outspan appears about once in every 55 million words in written English, the 231,291st most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Forms of outspan
- outspans present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- outspanning participle, present
- outspanned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does outspan mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To release oxen from a harness.
We had outspanned on in a flat covered with close grass about two feet high…The wagons, four in number, were drawn up off the road two abreast.
noun
- 1
The place where one releases oxen from a harness.
At the outspan or on the road or footpath he shouldered them aside as one walks through standing corn, not aggressively, but with the superb indifference of right and habit unquestioned.
- 2
An area on a farm kept available for travellers to rest and refresh their animals.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does outspan come from?
From out + span. Compare Afrikaans uitspan.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).