piebald

Everyday

1. Of a horse or other animal: having large patches of two colours, usually black and white. tree →
2. (noun) A piebald horse or pony. tree →

In the lessons

Used in stories and about horses and ponies, and in nature lessons about animal colours. Gypsy and Traveller horses are often piebald or skewbald (brown and white). In stories it helps the reader picture an animal.

Examples

• The children rode a piebald pony. tree →
• A piebald horse stood in the field. tree →
• Our cat is piebald, black and white. tree →
• The travellers' piebald horses grazed by the road. tree →
• She drew a piebald pony with big patches. tree →
• The circus had a piebald horse with a white face. tree →
• Then he changed the old mare into a brisk, piebald palfrey. tree →

Note

Piebald = black and white patches; skewbald = white with brown or another colour. Pie- comes from the magpie, a black and white bird.