saddle, verb

Origin:
EnglishShow more Special uses of general English.
obs.
1. in the phrase to saddle off [adaptation of off-saddle by the transposition of the two elements], off-saddle verb.
a. intransitive.
1835 T.H. Bowker Journal. 19 Jan.Saddle off in the edge of the Bush lose the horses.
1839 W.C. Harris Wild Sports 329The mention of ‘Sillekat’s land,’ while it elicited an oath, and an exclamation of surprise, procured me also an invitation to ‘saddle off’.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 418Saddle off, To, See Off-saddle.
b. transitive.
1835 J.W.D. Moodie Ten Yrs in S. Afr. I. 65He..asked us if we would ‘saddle off’ our horses.
1871 J. Mackenzie Ten Yrs N. of Orange River 259He had not met with any game, and after some hours’ search, had saddled off his horse to let it graze for a few minutes before returning to the waggons.
c1881 A. Douglass Ostrich Farming 203When travelling, if the horse is saddled off every two hours, even if only for a few minutes, to allow him to stale, and is not allowed to drink water whilst hot, he will seldom hurt in South Africa.
2. intransitive. In the phrase to saddle up [adaptation of upsaddle by the transposition of the two elements], upsaddle sense 2.
Note:
Also used elsewhere. The general English transitive sense ‘to put a saddle on (a horse)’ occurs widely in South African English.
1836 J. Collett Diary. I. 14 Feb.Having had heavy rains yesterday the Rivers began rising so that fearing I shd not cross I saddled up & rode off but was too late.
1849 E.D.H.E. Napier Excursions in Sn Afr. II. 12When you wish to depart, your order is to ‘saddle-up’.
1852 Trial of Andries Botha 24I then saw some confusion where Boko was, and I saddled up, and went down into Fort Armstrong.
1882 C. Du Val With Show through Sn Afr. I. 228Accompanied by Fry, my comrade we ‘saddled up’ and left the capital of Natal at a little past the midnight hour.
1882 Lady F.C. Dixie In Land of Misfortune 333The order to saddle up and begin the homeward journey was given.
1925 D. Kidd Essential Kafir 9After a short rest, we ‘saddle up’ and continue our journey.
in the phrase to saddle off [adaptation of off-saddle by the transposition of the two elements], off-saddle verb.
In the phrase to saddle up [adaptation of upsaddle by the transposition of the two elements], upsaddle sense 2.
Derivatives:
Hence saddling-up  verbal noun.
1849 E.D.H.E. Napier Excursions in Sn Afr. II. 12Another term of Colonial import is that of ‘saddling-up,’ and ‘off-saddling.’
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18351925

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saddling-up
Sactu, nounn.SADF, nounn.
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