Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
equine (adj., n.)
The adjective means “like, concerning, or characteristic of a horse,” and the noun is simply another (Latinate) word for “horse.” The noun in particular is frequently considered pretentious, an elegant variation designed to elevate a horsy matter. The adjective is not usually so judged, perhaps because equine is used almost universally as the generic adjective and in veterinary and other specialized terminology, whereas horsy and horsey sound rather whimsical or childish. But compare CANINE; FELINE.
