Gespann

German

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ɡəˈʃpan/
  • Rhymes: -an
  • Hyphenation: Ge‧spann

Etymology 1

From Middle High German gespan (“clasp; frame, welt”), from Old High German gespan (“clasp; chain, bracelet”), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *spannaną. Equivalent to ge- (collective prefix) +‎ spannen (“to span, yoke”).

Cognate with Middle Dutch gespan (“clasp; pair; troup”), whence modern Dutch gespan, and Old English ġespan (“joining, fastening together; clasp; yoke”), whence probably modern English span (“pair of horses”). The original sense present in all of the old languages seems to be “clasp, device for joining”. The sense “people or animals joined together” apparently only since the 16th century in High German, but in Dutch at least since the 14th century.

Noun

Gespann n (strong, genitive Gespannes or Gespanns, plural Gespanne)

  1. team (of yoked animals)
  2. a group of close partners, especially a pair of two
  3. horse and cart, horse and carriage; oxcart
  4. a caravan of connected vehicles
  5. (Switzerland) a lath framework
    Synonym: Lattengerüst
Declension
Declension of Gespann [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Gespann die Gespanne
genitive eines des Gespannes, Gespanns der Gespanne
dative einem dem Gespann, Gespanne1 den Gespannen
accusative ein das Gespann die Gespanne

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms
  • Dreigespann
  • Führungsgespann
  • LKW-Gespann
  • Motorradgespann
  • Ochsengespann
  • Pferdegespann
  • Wohnwagengespann
  • Zweigespann

Etymology 2

From Hungarian ispán, from a Slavic language.

Noun

Gespann m (strong, genitive Gespannes or Gespanns, plural Gespanne)

  1. Alternative form of Gespan
Declension
Declension of Gespann [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Gespann die Gespanne
genitive eines des Gespannes, Gespanns der Gespanne
dative einem dem Gespann, Gespanne1 den Gespannen
accusative einen den Gespann die Gespanne

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

References
  • “Gespann” in Duden online
  • “Gespann” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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