foal

1 of 2

noun

ˈfōl 

: a young animal of the horse family

especially : one under one year

foal

2 of 2

verb

foaled; foaling; foals

intransitive verb

: to give birth to a foal

transitive verb

: to give birth to (a foal)

Phrases

in foal

: pregnant sense 1

Examples of foal in a Sentence

Verb

The mare will foal in June.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Dorman first met the horse during a Make-A-Wish visit to Gainsborough Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, when Cody’s Wish was a five-month-old foal in 2018. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2024

The sport is languishing locally, with lower attendance, mutuel handle and foal crop (number of horses born). —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

Verb

If that were to happen, the thoroughbred breed would be gone in the United States, as thoroughbreds are foaled almost exclusively for racing. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

Secretariat: Fifty years ago, Secretariat, foaled in 1970, became the ninth Triple Crown winner, setting new track records in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes while setting the world record of 2:24 on a 1 1/2 dirt track in the Belmont Stakes. —The Courier-Journal, 24 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fole, from Old English fola; akin to Latin pullus young of an animal, Greek pais child — more at few

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing foal

• in foal

Kids Definition

foal

1 of 2 noun

ˈfōl 

: a young animal of the horse family

especially : one under one year

foal

2 of 2 verb

: to give birth to a foal

Medical Definition

foal

1 of 2 noun

ˈfōl 

: the young of an animal of the horse family

especially : one less than one year old

foal

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to give birth to a foal