"More rapid than eagles his coursers they came"- what are coursers in this context?
Question #119274. Asked by BRY2K.
serpa
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serpa 17 year member
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Santa's reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
It really means a fast strong horse, as opposed to a slow powerful carthorse or a lady's palfrey or a destrier (which was a sort of souped-up carthorse for knights charging into battle and riding down anyone in the way. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destrier and similar - just change the word at the end
http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm
