simple bridle for breaking horses: a bridle without a bit but with an adjustable band by which a rider can exert pressure on a horse's nose, used especially to break young horses
[Mid-19th century. Alteration (by association with hack2) of Spanish jaquima< Arabic shaqīmah "restraint, bit"]
Regional History
The term hackamore was originally used in the Western states before the Civil War. Not limited to the Mexican-American settlements, this ranching term spread from Texas and New Mexico to Oregon, but is virtually unknown east of Texas.
