coltish
Americanadjective
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playful; frolicsome.
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of, relating to, or resembling a colt.
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not trained or disciplined; unruly; wild.
adjective
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inexperienced; unruly
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playful and lively
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of coltish
Explanation
An energetic, playful person can be described as coltish. A coltish preschooler might skip happily across the room and then slide to a stop in her socks. There's something a little young and awkward implied in the word coltish, which arose in the 14th century from the sense of a colt, or young horse, as a lively, frolicking, long-legged creature. Skinny-legged teenagers dashing around a mall are coltish, and a soccer team of five year-olds is made up of happy, coltish players.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Coltish, feral and passionately in love, Mr. Grigolo’s Mario is a true hothead.
From New York Times • Jan. 1, 2018
Coltish, fancy free, Ms. Poplavskaya charged through the bare trees like the huntress Diana, waist-length hair flying loose.
From New York Times • Nov. 20, 2010
"Maybe he's a shape-changer," the Professor's Coltish Daughter said in a burst of evil fantasy.
From What's He Doing in There? by Leiber, Fritz
"He may be dead or dying," the Professor's Coltish Daughter suggested briskly.
From What's He Doing in There? by Leiber, Fritz
Coltish at present, with great wrists shooting ever too quickly beyond his cuffs, and feet that seemed four sizes too large for his ankles, but wait until he began to fill out! thought Claudia proudly.
From The Disturbing Charm by Ruck, Berta
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
