pony

noun

1. A small horse; specifically, any of several small breeds of horse under 14.2 hands at the withers.
2. (endearing)A horse of any size.
3. A contraption built like a mount, strong enough to support one's weight.
4. (regional)A small serving of an alcoholic beverage, especially beer.

   “1879, “Some Queer Interviews: Interview with a Pony of Beer”, Puck, Vol. 5–6, p. 435”

   “‘I’m on the inside track,’ said a pony of beer as it went galloping down a man’s throat.”

   “Demon popped into his mouth a last morsel of black bread with elastic samlet, gulped down a last pony of vodka and took his place at the table with Marina facing him across its oblong length.”

   “I did not even know what a ‘pony’, a small chaser of beer, was. But of course I could not admit that. So putting on an air of nonchalance, and a deep voice, I strolled into a pub with one of the other equally naive guys and we ordered two ponies of beer. ‘McEwans?’ asked the barman. ‘Naw - ponies’ said I.”

5. (Australia, New-South-Wales, Western)A serving of 140 millilitres of beer (formerly 5 fl oz); a quarter pint.
6. (UK, slang)Twenty-five pounds (money).

   ““You said a pony,” interposed Clavering; “my dear fellow, you said a pony, and I’ll be eternally obliged to you; and I’ll not take it as a gift—only as a loan, and pay you back in six months. I take my oath, I will.” “Well—well—there’s the money, Sir Francis Clavering. […] Here’s five-and-twenty for you.”

7. (US, slang)A translation used as a study aid; loosely, a crib, a cheat-sheet.

   “She kept the dates written down in her Latin 'pony', so she didn't have to bother about who it was.”

8. (slang)A ponytail hairstyle.

   “His hair is a semilong dull red and pulled back in a sloppy pony at the base of his neck, and his face is riddled with small freckles and grease, but out here I can see personal hygiene isn't exactly at the top of the priority list.”

9. (slang)One horsepower.

   “How many ponies are under the hood?”

10. A dance from the 1960s in which the dancer mimics the high-stepping prance of a pony.

    “Do the monkey, do the pony / Do the slop, do the boogaloo twist.”

11. (slang)A chorus girl of small stature.

    “He suggested a Rose Ballet in which he would use the G. V. Follies chorus girls, chiefly the ponies and mediums.”

12. (abbreviation, alt-of, derogatory, ellipsis, slang)Ellipsis of Sony pony.
13. (Cockney, slang)Synonym of crap: rubbish, nonsense.
14. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of pone.

    “If the dealer deals himself two cards together and then deals a third, the pony must draw a card at random from the dealer's hand.”

15. An athletic shoe or other piece of athletic gear of an American-based brand of that name.

verb

1. (transitive)To lead (a horse) from another horse.
2. To use a crib or cheat-sheet in translating.

adj

1. (Cockney, not-comparable, slang)Synonym of crap: of little worth.

name

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of Pony International, an American brand of athletic gear.
2. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of My Little Pony, a cartoon media-franchise based on anthropomorphic equines.