curvet
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
-
to leap in a curvet, as a horse; cause one's horse to do this.
-
to leap and frisk.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
dressage to make or cause to make such a leap
-
(intr) to prance or frisk about
Etymology
Origin of curvet
1565–75; earlier curvetto < Italian corvetta < French courbette, equivalent to courb(er) to bend, curve (≪ Latin curvāre; cf. curve) + -ette -ette ( def. )
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.
See Examples For:
Tigers walk treadmills, horses curvet superbly and Harry Rittely sits atop seven tables and topples over backwards.
From Time Magazine Archive
Elizabeth's Winston, pestered by a swarm of thunder flies, began to curvet alarmingly.
From Time Magazine Archive
When my bright scabbard bounded by thy side, And shouts of victory our toils repaid, The stately curvet, and the pacing stride, None of our troops so gracefully displayed.
From The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 6, June 1810 by S. C. (Stephen Cullen) Carpenter
"See that creature begin to curvet and roll her eyes!" says Mrs. Gunning.
From A British Islander From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899 by Mary Hartwell Catherwood
Troth, in my hope, or my assurance, rather, To see thee curvet, and mount like a dog in a blanket, If ever thou presume to pass her threshold, I will endure thy company.
From The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 4, April 1810 by S. C. (Stephen Cullen) Carpenter
It pranced and curveted and showed much spirit.
From Legends of The Kaw The Folk-Lore of the Indians of the Kansas River Valley by Carrie de Voe
He curveted into the room as if he had bought it and the rest of the city.
From The Man with Two Left Feet And Other Stories by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
He was silent for a moment, and the horse curveted gracefully under him, as if in doubt whether to gallop away again, or to ask his rider to get off.
From Ahead of the Army by C. Chase Emerson
A mist came before his eyes; the trees curveted and swam; and his visible world swung upside down and went out in a singing and spark-shot blackness.
From Queed by Raymond Moreau Crosby
"You bet!" responded the girl actor, as she curveted down toward the factory in response to the whistle calling them back to their work.
From The Leaven in a Great City by Lillian William Betts
Something undoubtedly was curveting and prancing before the door; something with a white flowing tail.
From Verner's Pride by Mrs. Henry Wood
Then she would watch Absalom with all the confidence of happy anticipation, as he rode off down the mountain with his hair flaunting, and his spurs jingling, and his shy young horse curveting.
From His "Day In Court" 1895 by A. B. (Arthur Burdett) Frost
"Oh, do stop!" she continued to the horse who now on the level again, began sidling and curveting.
From Dulcibel A Tale of Old Salem by Howard Pyle
They had passed the mounted herders, and the colts broke their way playfully, dancing, curveting with bowing necks, into the midst of the flock.
From The Rim of the Desert by Ada Woodruff Anderson
A new and strange paralysis of all his emotions seemed to have crept over Durkin, as he watched the cab door slammed shut and the horses go plunging and curveting out through the crowd.
From Phantom Wires A Novel by Arthur William Brown
Over Dayton, Ohio, last week curvetted three new little airplanes, undergoing rigorous U. S. Army Air Corps tests in its present search for an advanced type training plane.
From Time Magazine Archive
At Sundra Straits, he curvetted over the mountains and jungles of Sumbawa, Dutch island.
From Time Magazine Archive
Twenty feet above Aslan and Digory he snorted, neighed, and curvetted.
From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis
Her horse curvetted, arched his neck, played pretty tricks at command, and was long-legged enough to carry her swiftly over the ground if she so desired.
From Frances of the Ranges The Old Ranchman's Treasure by Amy Bell Marlowe
The ship curvetted in space like a prancing steed.
From Runaway by William Ashman
Alfredo, made his pony caper and look hard to ride, curvetting, sidling, closer and closer.
From Time Magazine Archive
The horses can smell the tiger scent and begin neighing and curvetting, trying to get away from it.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
Teresina also arose before my imagination curvetting on her proud steed with the lute in her hands, like Art herself disguised in romance.
From Weird Tales. Vol. I by E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus) Hoffmann
And taking their places before a great express wagon, went prancing and curvetting their way from door to door, Mr. Fisk stopping wherever a beckoning hand appeared at a window.
From Life on the Stage by Clara Morris
We did not whirl up the street, with our horse curvetting proudly and the jarvey clinging to the reins.
From The Charm of Ireland by Burton Egbert Stevenson
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