late 14c. (early 13c. as a proper name), from horse (n.) + shoe (n.). Horseshoes as another name for the game of quoits, attested by 1822.
HORSE-SHOES, the game of coits, or quoits--because sometimes actually played with horse-shoes. [John Trotter Brockett, "A Glossary of North Country Words," 1829]
The belief that finding a horseshoe by chance is lucky is attested from late 14c., and the practice of nailing one above a doorway to prevent a witch entering therein was common in London down to c. 1800. Of a type of bend in a river, 1770, American English. As a type of crab, from 1775.
实用例句
1. Ferries churn the waters of Howe Sound from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay.
渡船搅起豪湾的海水，从兰代尔驶向霍斯舒湾。来自柯林斯例句
2. Bend the bar into a horseshoe.
把铁条弯成马蹄形。来自柯林斯例句
3. a horseshoe bend in the river
河道中的马蹄形弯曲来自《权威词典》
4. The blacksmith is forging the horseshoe.
铁匠正在打造马蹄铁.来自《简明英汉词典》
5. The blacksmith shaped a horseshoe on his anvil.
