This is a dictionary of Arabic horse terminology covering Egyptian, Bedouin and Classical Arabic.
The book begins with a general introduction on the importance of the horse in traditional Arabic culture, including such things as lucky markings, colours and whorls, the origin of the Arabian horse, the value of mares as opposed to stallions, the naming of Arabian horses, good and bad conformation, and the use of simile and metaphor in describing the horse in classical Arabic poetry.
Within each section, words are listed alphabetically according to the English. Each page is divided into three columns with the English term on the left, the Arabic term in Latin transcription in the middle, and the Arabic term in vowelled Arabic script on the right. Where appropriate, additional explanation or annotation is given beneath each word.
An expert rider as well as an Arabist, the author combines her areas of expertise. The volume begins with a general introduction on the importance of the horse in traditional Arabic culture and proceeds to the lexicon of some 1,000 horse terms in Egyptian, Bedouin, and Classical Arabic. Each page is divided into three columns with the English term on the left, the Arabic term in Latin transcription in the middle, and the Arabic term in vowelled Arabic script on the right. Where appropriate, additional explanation or annotation is given beneath each word. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.