foal

Everyday

1. A foal is a baby horse, donkey or zebra. tree →
2. When a mare foals, she gives birth to a foal. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on animals and their young, a foal can stand and walk within hours of birth; on farms and in stories foals frolic in fields. Phrases: «a newborn foal», «the mare and her foal», «in foal» (pregnant).

Examples

• The foal stood up on wobbly legs. tree →
• The mare and her foal grazed in the field. tree →
• A foal can walk soon after it is born. tree →
• The zebra foal stayed close to its mother. tree →
• The mare foaled during the night. tree →
• The foal had long, thin legs. tree →
• A young male foal is a colt, and a young female is a filly. tree →
• ‘Dost thou see anything now?’ said the Foal. tree →

Note

Countable. Pronounced to rhyme with «goal». Related: mare (mother), stallion (father), colt (young male), filly (young female). Do not confuse with «fowl» (birds) or «foul».

In Jewish tradition

It is a young donkey or camel in Jacob's gifts and blessing.

Interpretation. Jacob's gift to Esau was a large peace-offering of animals. Judah's blessing, with a foal tied to the vine, is read as a picture of plenty.

Examples

• thirty milch camels and their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals. (Torah GEN.32.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washeth his garments in wine, and his vesture in the blood of grapes; (Torah GEN.49.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee, he is triumphant, and victorious, lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Prophets ZEC.9.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Pronounced to rhyme with «goal». Related: mare (mother), stallion (father), colt (young male), filly (young female). Do not confuse with «fowl» (birds) or «foul».