Most modern (i.e., XIXth century onwards) Arabic dictionaries offer similar definitions for the birdhawn (translations mine): The al-Ra’id dictionary defines it as an “animal lesser than a horse, with thick body parts, stocky, especially used as a pack animal“. The al-Wasit dictionary defines it as “a term for non-Arab horses and mules, from the equus genus, with a massive build, thick body parts, strong legs and large hooves“. The al-Ghani dictionary defines it as “an animal from the equus genus, with a stocky frame, thick body parts, strong legs, large hooves, especially used as a pack animal“. The al-Ma’aani dictionary defines the birdhawn as “an animal, lesser than horses but larger than donkeys; a Turkish horse“. I find this last definition very interesting, because it aligns with the Western definition of a pony: larger than a donkey, but smaller than a horse. From the same species as a horse, but not quite a horse in size, use or status. The reference to Turkish horses is reminiscent of Kirghiz ponies (drawing below and photo both from Wikipedia). The much older Lisan al-Arab dictionary (1290 CE) defines the birdhawn as: “a horse, other than the progeny of Arab horses” (al-baraadhin mina al-khayl:…
From the Nasiri book, again, my translation: The knowledge of the authentic (‘atiq), enduring (sabur) and generous (karim) horse needs [some] citation and demonstration, because all past horsemen of the Age of Ignorance [jahilliyah, before the advent of Islam] have featured horses in their poetry and mentioned them [along] with their characteristics. The Prophet of God, Peace Be Upon Him [from now on, PBUH] has favored them [i.e., the authentic horses] over other horses because he, PBUH, has set aside (‘arraba, same root as Arab so a play on words) the Arab and disparaged (hajjana, same root as hajin, again a play on the next word) the hajin; he allocated two shares [of the spoils] to the Arab horse (al-faras al-‘arabi) and one share to the non-Arab horse (al-faras ghayr al-‘arabi). It was reported, after the Prophet of God, PBUH, in featuring the authentic horse, that the jinn do not manifest themselves to anyone in a home with an authentic (‘atiq) horse. A horseman needs such a horse. The first thing he needs to know is to pick for himself an enduring (sabur), generous (jawad, also means charger) horse on which to face his enemy [in battle]. If he does…