Horn

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).

The word “horn” is often used metaphorically to signify strength and honor, because horns are the chief weapons and ornaments of the animals which possess them; hence they are also used as a type of victory. Of strength the horn of the unicorn was the most frequent representative, (33:17) etc., but not always; comp. (1 Kings 22:11) where probably horns of iron, worn defiantly and symbolically on the head, are intended. Among the Druses upon Mount Lebanon the married women wear silver horns on their heads. In the sense of honor, the word horn stands for the abstract “my horn,” (Job 16:16) “all the horn of Israel,” (1 Samuel 2:3) and so for the supreme authority. It also stands for the concrete, whence it comes to mean king, kingdom. (Daniel 8:2) etc.; Zech 1:18 Out of either or both of these last two metaphors sprang the idea of representing gods with horns.

HORN. This word is employed in the O.T. as an emblem of power, honor, or glory. Deut 33:17; Job 16:15; Lam 2:3. "To exalt the horn" was the same as to prosper; so "to cut off" the horn," Jer 48:25; Lam 2:3, is to render worthless, to ruin. "To defile the horn in the dust" is to humble most deeply, Job 16:15. The horn was likewise the symbol of victory. Hence its use by the false prophet Zedekiah, 1 Kgs 22:11, and in the Revelation of John, Rev 5:6. So elsewhere. It is also frequently employed in prophetic visions instead of "kings" and "kingdoms," Dan 7:20-24; Zech 1:18. Horns were used as vessels for liquids, especially oil and perfumes, 1 Sam 16:1; 1 Kgs 1:39, and also for trumpets, Josh 6:8, Lev 6:13. It is not necessary to think they were always actual horns, but rather hornshaped articles. The horn being the chief defence and strength of many beasts, to break or cut off the horn of a king or people is to abridge or destroy their power, and to raise or exalt the horn is to establish or increase power and prosperity. So also among the aborigines of this country a like custom prevailed. The chief of the council which negotiated the treaty with William Penn Horns worn as head-ornaments by modern Orientals. opened the business by placing on his own head a crown with a horn in it, significant of supreme authority, by which the covenants of the treaty were made binding. Dr. Livingstone describes how the natives of South Africa ornament their heads with buffalo-horns. The married women of the Druses of Mount Lebanon formerly wore on their head horns, originally of paste-board or pottery, but, through pride and rivalry, from a few inches they became of enormous length and the material was of greater cost, until the Druse rich women "sported gold horns decked with jewels, and so long that a servant had to spread the veil over them." Horns of the Altar. See Altar.

HORN. This word is employed in the O.T. as an emblem of power, honor, or glory. Deut 33:17; Job 16:15; Lam 2:3. "To exalt the horn" was the same as to prosper; so "to cut off" the horn," Jer 48:25; Lam 2:3, is to render worthless, to ruin. "To defile the horn in the dust" is to humble most deeply, Job 16:15. The horn was likewise the symbol of victory. Hence its use by the false prophet Zedekiah, 1 Kgs 22:11, and in the Revelation of John, Rev 5:6. So elsewhere. It is also frequently employed in prophetic visions instead of "kings" and "kingdoms," Dan 7:20-24; Zech 1:18. Horns were used as vessels for liquids, especially oil and perfumes, 1 Sam 16:1; 1 Kgs 1:39, and also for trumpets, Josh 6:8, Lev 6:13. It is not necessary to think they were always actual horns, but rather hornshaped articles. The horn being the chief defence and strength of many beasts, to break or cut off the horn of a king or people is to abridge or destroy their power, and to raise or exalt the horn is to establish or increase power and prosperity. So also among the aborigines of this country a like custom prevailed. The chief of the council which negotiated the treaty with William Penn Horns worn as head-ornaments by modern Orientals. opened the business by placing on his own head a crown with a horn in it, significant of supreme authority, by which the covenants of the treaty were made binding. Dr. Livingstone describes how the natives of South Africa ornament their heads with buffalo-horns. The married women of the Druses of Mount Lebanon formerly wore on their head horns, originally of paste-board or pottery, but, through pride and rivalry, from a few inches they became of enormous length and the material was of greater cost, until the Druse rich women "sported gold horns decked with jewels, and so long that a servant had to spread the veil over them." Horns of the Altar. See Altar.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A hard, projecting, and usually pointed organ, growing upon the heads of certain animals, esp. of the ruminants, as cattle, goats, and the like. The hollow horns of the Ox family consist externally of true horn, and are never shed.

2. The antler of a deer, which is of bone throughout, and annually shed and renewed.

3. Any natural projection or excrescence from an animal, resembling or thought to resemble a horn in substance or form; esp.:

4. A projection from the beak of a bird, as in the hornbill. (b) A tuft of feathers on the head of a bird, as in the horned owl. (c) A hornlike projection from the head or thorax of an insect, or the head of a reptile, or fish. (d) A sharp spine in front of the fins of a fish, as in the horned pout.

5. An incurved, tapering and pointed appendage found in the flowers of the milkweed (Asclepias).

6. Something made of a horn, or in resemblance of a horn; as:

7. A wind instrument of music; originally, one made of a horn (of an ox or a ram); now applied to various elaborately wrought instruments of brass or other metal, resembling a horn in shape. "Wind his horn under the castle wall." Spenser. See French horn, under French.

8. A drinking cup, or beaker, as having been originally made of the horns of cattle. "Horns of mead and ale." Mason.

9. The cornucopia, or horn of plenty. See Cornucopia. "Fruits and flowers from Amalthæa's horn." Milton.

10. A vessel made of a horn; esp., one designed for containing powder; anciently, a small vessel for carrying liquids. "Samuel took the hornof oil and anointed him [David]." 1 Sam. xvi. 13.

11. The pointed beak of an anvil.

12. The high pommel of a saddle; also, either of the projections on a lady's saddle for supporting the leg.

13. One of the projections at the four corners of the Jewish altar of burnt offering. "Joab . . . caught hold on the horns of the altar." 1 Kings ii. 28.

14. One of the curved ends of a crescent; esp., an extremity or cusp of the moon when crescent-shaped. The moon Wears a wan circle round her blunted horns. Thomson.

15. The curving extremity of the wing of an army or of a squadron drawn up in a crescentlike form. Sharpening in mooned horns Their phalanx. Milton.

16. The tough, fibrous material of which true horns are composed, being, in the Ox family, chiefly albuminous, with some phosphate of lime; also, any similar substance, as that which forms the hoof crust of horses, sheep, and cattle; as, a spoon of horn.

17. A symbol of strength, power, glory, exaltation, or pride. The Lord is . . . the horn of my salvation. Ps. xviii. 2.

18. An emblem of a cuckold; -- used chiefly in the plural. "Thicker than a cuckold's horn." Shak. Horn block, the frame or pedestal in which a railway car axle box slides up and down; -- also called horn plate. -- Horn of a dilemma. See under Dilemma. -- Horn distemper, a disease of cattle, affecting the internal substance of the horn. -- Horn drum, a wheel with long curved scoops, for raising water. -- Horn lead (Chem.), chloride of lead. -- Horn maker, a maker of cuckolds. [Obs.] Shak. -- Horn mercury. (Min.) Same as Horn quicksilver (below). -- Horn poppy (Bot.), a plant allied to the poppy (Glaucium luteum), found on the sandy shores of Great Britain and Virginia; -- called also horned poppy. Gray. -- Horn pox (Med.), abortive smallpox with an eruption like that of chicken pox. -- Horn quicksilver (Min.), native calomel, or bichloride of mercury. -- Horn shell (Zoöl.), any long, sharp, spiral, gastropod shell, of the genus Cerithium, and allied genera. -- Horn silver (Min.), cerargyrite. -- Horn slate, a gray, siliceous stone. -- To haul in one's horns, to withdraw some arrogant pretension. [Colloq.] -- To raise, or lift, the horn (Script.), to exalt one's self; to act arrogantly. "'Gainst them that raised thee dost thou lift thy horn" Milton. -- To take a horn, to take a drink of intoxicating liquor. [Low]

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To furnish with horns; to give the shape of a horn to.

2. To cause to wear horns; to cuckold. [Obs.] Shak.