English

light horse

From light (“lacking weight”, adjective) + horse (noun).

Formed from light ‘lacking weight’ + horse

Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘to shine’

…

Proto-Germanic *leuhtą

Proto-West Germanic *leuht ‘light’

Old English lēoht

Middle English light ‘light, illumination’

English light

Proto-Germanic *hrussą ‘horse’

Proto-West Germanic *hross ‘horse’

Old English hors ‘horse’

Middle English hors ‘a horse’

English horse

Today it means

noun Light-armed cavalry.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / light horse