Hengist and Horsa
Preserved but no longer current.
The semi-legendary leaders of the Jutes, who landed in England at Ebbs- fleet, Kent, in 449. Horsa is said to have been slain at the battle of Aylesford, about 455, and Hengist to have ruled in Kent till his death in 488. Ger. hengst, a stallion, and Horsa is connected with our word horse. The two brothers may have received their names from the devices borne on their arms.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Hengist and Horsa” mean?
The semi-legendary leaders of the Jutes, who landed in England at Ebbs- fleet, Kent, in 449. Horsa is said to have been slain at the battle of Aylesford, about 455, and Hengist to have ruled in Kent till his death in 488. Ger. hengst, a stallion, and Horsa is connected with our word horse. The two brothers may have received their names from the devices borne on their arms.
Is “Hengist and Horsa” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.