What does palomino mean?
A palomino is a horse whose coat is golden, creamy yellow, or light chestnut, usually accompanied by a white or flaxen mane and tail. The word ordinarily names a color pattern rather than a breed, so palominos may have varied ancestry and conformation. The distinctive appearance has made the term particularly common in descriptions of show horses, ranch animals, and everyday references to horse color. Pale horses have also appeared in art and folklore, although not every golden horse in cultural tradition is specifically called a palomino. In the game of dominoes, a palomino is a traditionally pale-yellow or cream-colored piece. Thus, outside horse-related settings, the word most often refers to the color and appearance of a domino rather than to an animal. Knowing that it is a coloration term rather than a breed designation helps prevent a common misunderstanding.
nounA palomino is a horse with a golden or creamy-yellow coat, a pale mane, and usually a pale tail. The term can also denote a traditional pale-yellow or cream-colored domino.
- A horse with a golden or creamy-yellow coat and a pale mane and tail.
- A domino with a pale-yellow or cream-colored face.
"The palomino bounded across the paddock, its golden coat bright against the green field."
"She bought a palomino with a flowing white mane and tail."
"The final domino was a palomino, its cream-colored face standing out from the black pieces."
Plural is used for individual horses or dominoes of this type.
"Several palominos grazed beside the white fence."
A palomino is a color pattern, not a horse breed: two horses with the same golden coloring may come from entirely different bloodlines.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does palomino come from?
The word comes from Spanish palomino, derived from paloma, meaning “pigeon” or “dove.” The traditional association with a pigeon reflects the pale, creamy coloring associated with the bird's feathers and was extended to golden horses. Spanish palomar, a dovecote, and palomero, a pigeon keeper or dealer, belong to the same word family.
How palomino is actually used
In equestrian contexts, “palomino” usually describes coloration rather than a formal breed. The horse's breed must be identified separately if known.