ranch

ranch

ranch large farm devoted chiefly to raising and breeding cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. The cattle ranch was introduced from Latin America to Texas and the plains of the W United States and Canada. The first ranchers owned cattle, ponies, and camp equipment but no land, grazing their stock on the free public range . When the fencing of land became compulsory, most ranges were broken up into smaller ranches. Cattle and sheep are often shipped from ranches to feed lots in the corn belt for fattening. The term ranch is applied in the W United States also to grain and fruit farms. The dude ranch offers horseback riding and other typically Western outdoor activities for the entertainment of paying guests. Some dude ranches are also "working" ranches, but most are devoted solely to vacationers.

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"ranch." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ranch." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ranch.html

"ranch." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ranch.html

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ranch

ranch / ranch/ • n. a large farm, esp. in the western U.S. and Canada, where cattle or other animals are bred and raised. ∎  (also ranch house) a single-story, sometimes split-level, house, typically with a low-pitched roof. ∎ short for ranch dressing. • v. [intr.] [often as n.] (ranching) run a ranch: cattle ranching. ∎  [tr.] [often as adj.] (ranched) breed (animals) on a ranch. ∎  [tr.] use (land) as a ranch. ORIGIN: early 19th cent.: from Spanish rancho ‘group of persons eating together.’

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"ranch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ranch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ranch.html

"ranch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ranch.html

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ranch

ranch hut or house in the country; cattle-breeding establishment. XIX. — Sp. rancho mess on board ship, soldiers' quarters, (in S. America) hut for herdsmen, etc.

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T. F. HOAD. "ranch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "ranch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ranch.html

T. F. HOAD. "ranch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ranch.html

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ranch

ranch •Romansh •blanch, Blanche, branch, ranch, tranche •avalanche •backbench, bench, blench, clench, Dench, drench, entrench, French, frontbench, quench, stench, tench, trench, wench, wrench •crossbench • workbench •cinch, clinch, finch, flinch, inch, lynch, Minch, pinch, squinch, winch •chaffinch • greenfinch • hawfinch •goldfinch • bullfinch •carte blanche, conch •graunch, haunch, launch, paunch, raunch, staunch •brunch, bunch, crunch, hunch, lunch, munch, punch, scrunch •honeybunch • keypunch

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"ranch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ranch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ranch.html

"ranch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ranch.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

RANCH MARKET PLUGGING ALONG SLOWLY.(Real Estate Guide)
Newspaper article from: The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM); 11/2/2008
AT THE RANCH.(Special Sections)
Newspaper article from: The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM); 11/26/2005
Western ranch experience just an hour away.(Family Times)(Events)(Feild Trips)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 8/15/2000

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