capriole

American  

[kap-ree-ohl] / ˈkæp riˌoʊl /

noun

1. a caper or leap.

2. Manège. a movement in which the horse jumps up with its forelegs well drawn in, kicks out with its hind legs in a horizontal position in the air, and then lands again on the same spot.

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verb (used without object)

caprioled, caprioling

1. to execute a capriole.

capriole British  

/ ˈkæprɪˌəʊl /

noun

1. dressage a high upward but not forward leap made by a horse with all four feet off the ground

2. dancing a leap from bent knees

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verb

1. (intr) to perform a capriole

Etymology

Origin of capriole

1570–80; < Middle French < Italian capriola, noun derivative of capriolare to leap, caper, verbal derivative of capri ( u ) olo roebuck < Latin capreolus, equivalent to capre ( a ) roe deer (derivative of caper male goat; cf. caper ¹) + -olus -ole ¹

Explanation

A capriole is a playful jump or leap. In dressage, it's an advanced leap that a highly trained horse performs. While performing a capriole, a horse jumps straight up into the air, pulling its front legs in toward its chest, and kicking its back legs out parallel to the ground. This classical — and very impressive! — equestrian feat probably evolved from techniques that warhorses were trained to do in medieval times. The word capriole comes from the Italian word capriolare, which means "to leap like a goat." It is often used to describe leaping about joyfully, as a child or a young goat might do. In ballet, a graceful, leaping capriole — more often spelled as cabriole — is an energetic, kicking leap.

Example Sentences

Leap -- N. leap, jump, hop, spring, bound, vault, saltation†. ance, caper; curvet, caracole; gambade†, gambado†; capriole, demivolt†; buck, buck jump; hop skip and jump; falcade†. kangaroo, jerboa; chamois, goat, frog, grasshopper, flea; buckjumper†; wallaby.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

Related Words

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• dive
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