Oct 22, 2015
#1485: “The word "horse" in horseradish has no relationship to the animal of the same name. It is used to mean "coarse" or "rough," as in the terms "horse mackerel" and "horse bean."
True.
Formerly, the term horse used to mean “coarse, large.” This was applied to horseradish, horse mackerel (if you’ve played Animal Crossing, you’re familiar with this fish), and horse beans, which are better known as fava beans.
Incidentally, the other kind of horse bean is better known as a mixture of dried-up horse smegma mixed with dirt and other cells in the stallion’s sheath that can cause problems with peeing.
