Mustang (*the car) <- mustang (**the horse) <- mustang (*** the plane) <- the Brits (!?!)
So I think most people (at least on this site) know that the Mustang was originally named for the P51 Mustang plane (quickly followed, possibly concurrently, with its association of the horse = horsepower, wildness, and freedom to run). But I just found out that the plane was named by... wait for it... the Brits!
Here's a good documentary on the P51 Mustang. At min 7:00 it talks about the genesis of the name. The P51 was designed and prototyped in just 4 months!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH0HDuknMII
The final wrinkle is that the name "mustang" is actually from the Spanish who first introduced the horse to North America in the 1500's. Some escaped and were eventually named "mustangs" which has the following etymology
Mustang: an American feral horse, typically small and lightly built.
From a blend of Spanish mestengo (from mesta ‘company of graziers’) and mostrenco, both meaning ‘wild or masterless cattle.’
So I think most people (at least on this site) know that the Mustang was originally named for the P51 Mustang plane (quickly followed, possibly concurrently, with its association of the horse = horsepower, wildness, and freedom to run). But I just found out that the plane was named by... wait for it... the Brits!
Here's a good documentary on the P51 Mustang. At min 7:00 it talks about the genesis of the name. The P51 was designed and prototyped in just 4 months!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH0HDuknMII
The final wrinkle is that the name "mustang" is actually from the Spanish who first introduced the horse to North America in the 1500's. Some escaped and were eventually named "mustangs" which has the following etymology
Mustang: an American feral horse, typically small and lightly built.
From a blend of Spanish mestengo (from mesta ‘company of graziers’) and mostrenco, both meaning ‘wild or masterless cattle.’
