grooms

Grooms, the plural form of the noun groom, may refer to several related concepts in English. In a wedding context, the groom is the male partner who is to be married to the bride. Depending on culture and tradition, the groom may wear formal attire, participate in vows, and take part in customary rituals alongside the bride and other participants. In same-sex marriages, both partners may be referred to as grooms.

In the context of horses and riding, a groom is a stable worker who cares for horses. Duties typically include cleaning and brushing coats, bathing animals, feeding and turnout, handling horses in hand, tacking and untacking before and after rides, and monitoring health and welfare. Grooms may work in stables, riding schools, performance centers, or at equestrian events, and may supervise or apprentice those learning stable management.

Verb sense: to groom means to clean, brush, and attend to appearance or health, or to prepare someone or something for a future role. The noun grooming describes this process of preparation or training.

Origin: The stable-work sense originates in Middle English, referring to attendants and servants; the wedding sense reflects traditional roles within marriages.