cān

骖

Character · NounTraditional驂

ancient carriage horse; trace horse

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 2 examples
1.

noun

trace horse; outside horse in a team of four

archaic

In ancient Chinese chariots, a four-horse team was common. The two central horses attached to the yoke were called '服马' (fu2 ma3), while the two outer horses attached by traces were called '骖马' (can1 ma3).

Gǔ古
dài代
zhàn战
chē车
 ，
sì四
mǎ马
wéi为
sì驷
 ，
zuǒ左
yòu右
liǎng两
pǐ匹
yuē曰
cān骖
 。

In ancient chariots, a team of four horses was called 'si', with the two outer horses on the left and right called 'can'.

Zuǒ左
cān骖
yì殪
xī兮
yòu右
rèn刃
shāng伤
 。

The left trace horse was killed, the right one wounded by blades.