caracole
Americannoun
-
a half turn executed by a horse and rider.
-
Rare. a winding staircase.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
dressage a half turn to the right or left
-
a spiral staircase
verb
Other Word Forms
- caracoler noun
Etymology
Origin of caracole
1650–60; < French < Spanish caracol snail, spiral shell or stair, turning movement (of a horse)
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.
He began to rear and caracole as if he were about to suffer transformation into a colt.
From Time Magazine Archive
The crude might of the queen was transformed into refined power, restrained and directed by a system of sparkling levers; the pawns grew cleverer; the knights stepped forth with a Spanish caracole .
From Time Magazine Archive
"Here is a brave victory," snorted Von Donck; and he gave vent to his delight by turning a caracole upon the forehead of the giant.
From The Plowshare and the Sword A Tale of Old Quebec by Trevena, John
We are to halt two days here, and before that is over, I hope you'll have made your last caracole in the riding-school of Nancy.'
From Maurice Tiernay Soldier of Fortune by Lever, Charles James
Though the winged-horse must caracole free— With the pretty, when "spurning the plain," Should the team-work fall wholly on me While he soars with Dolores and Jane?
From The Wit and Humor of America, Volume VII. (of X.) by Wilder, Marshall Pinckney
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.
