Horn

n. [A-S., O. Sax., Icel., Sw., Dan., & Ger. horn, D. horen, hoorn, Goth. haurn, allied to W. corn, Lat. cornu, Gr. κέρας.]

1. A hard, projecting, and usually pointed organ, growing from the heads of certain animals, especially of the ruminant or cud-chewing quadrupeds, as the ox, the goat, the deer, and the like. The hollow horns of the ox family consist externally of true horn, and are never shed, while the solid horns of the stag family are of bone throughout, and are annually shed and renewed.
2. Hence, something made of a horn, or resembling a horn in form, use, and the like; as, (a.) A wind instrument of music; hence, also, a musical instrument of brass or other material, resembling a horn in its shape. “Wind his horn under the castle wall.” Spenser. (b.) A drinking cup, or beaker; as having been originally made of the horns of cattle. (c.) The cornucopia, or horn of plenty. See CORNUCOPIA. “Fruits and flowers from Amalthea’s horn.” Milton. (d.) A utensil for holding powder.
3. Something resembling a horn in position or projection; as, (a.) The feeler of an insect, of a snail, and the like. (b.) An extremity or cusp of the moon when crescent-shaped.

The moon Wears a wan circle round her blunted horns. Thomson. (c.) Any pointed projection or excrescence from any thing; as, the horn of a beetle, the horn of a flower, the horn of an owl, the horn of an altar, and the like. (d.) The curving extremity of the wing of an army or of a squadron drawn up in a crescent-like form. “Sharpening in mooned horns their phalanx.” Milton.

4. The material of which horns are composed, being, in the ox family, chiefly albuminous, with some phosphate of lime; as, a spoon of horn; a horn lantern; a horn comb.
5. (Script.) A symbol of strength, power, exaltation.
6. An emblem of a cuckold;—used chiefly in the plural. “Thicker than a cuckold’s horn.” Shak.

To draw, pull, or haul in the horns, to repress one’s ardor; to restrain one’s pride; to withdraw from pretension; to take back arrogant or boastful words;—so used in allusion to the behavior of a snail or some insects, in retracting the feelers when alarmed.—To raise or lift the horn (Script.), to exalt one’s self; to rise in arrogance. “’Gainst them that raised thee dost thou raise thy horn?” Milton.—To take a horn, to take a drink, especially of some spirituous or intoxicating liquor. [Colloq. and low.]