English Dictionary

horse latitudes

名詞

くだけた表現 複数形 複数形のみ 比喩的用法

(informal, geography, meteorology) The warm, subtropical bands which encircle the globe between approximately 30 and 35 degrees both north and south of the Equator, characterized by high atmospheric pressure and dry variable winds ranging from calm to light.

日本語の意味

北緯および南緯約30～35度に位置する、温暖で亜熱帯の高気圧が支配する地域。特徴としては、高い大気圧の下で、乾燥しており、風が穏やかから弱い状態になることが挙げられる。

Sailors dreaded the long, windless stretches in the horse latitudes, where high pressure and dry, variable breezes could leave a ship becalmed for days.

船乗りたちは、赤道から約北緯・南緯30〜35度にかかる温暖な副熱帯高圧帯では、気圧が高く乾燥した変わりやすい弱い風のために船が数日間無風で停滞することがあり、そうした長い無風の海域を恐れた。

意味（1）

(informal, geography, meteorology) The warm, subtropical bands which encircle the globe between approximately 30 and 35 degrees both north and south of the Equator, characterized by high atmospheric pressure and dry variable winds ranging from calm to light.

At the equator, an immense mist seems permanently to encircle the globe. It is known as the cloud-ring. The function of the cloud-ring is to temper the heat of the tropics. . . . These are what are called horse latitudes. It was here that navigators of bygone ages were accustomed to cast their horses into the sea to lighten the ship in stormy weather.

意味（2）

(figuratively) A condition of relative inactivity, calm, or lethargy.

After months in the horse latitudes, retail and auto sales are scudding along at a brisk pace.