rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypicadorMounted bullfighter
noun

picador

pik-uh-DOR/ˌpɪkəˈdɔr/

A bullfighter on horseback who uses a lance to weaken the bull.

The mounted picador holds a lance above his horse's protective padding.

A Spanish picador sits mounted on a sturdy horse wearing protective padded caparison, holding a long bullfighting lance upright before entering the arena; traditional broad hat and embroidered short jacket, small plain arena barrier cue.
Etymology
picaSpanishto pierce
+dorSpanishone who

Picar, “to pierce,” with an agent ending gives “pricker.” The name identifies the mounted bullfighter by his task: pricking the bull with a lance.

More examples

  • The picador guides his horse toward the charging bull.
  • Two picadors wait on horseback at the edge of the ring.
  • Unlike the mounted picador, the matador faces the bull on foot.

Forms

picador · picadors

Similar words

bullfighter
A broader term covering both mounted fighters and those on foot.