curvet

American  

[kur-vit, ker-vet, kur-vit] / ˈkɜr vɪt, kərˈvɛt, ˈkɜr vɪt /

noun

1. Dressage.  a leap of a horse from a rearing position, in which it springs up with the hind legs outstretched as the forelegs descend.

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verb (used without object)

curvetted, curveted, curvetting, curveting.

1. to leap in a curvet, as a horse; cause one's horse to do this.

2. to leap and frisk.

verb (used with object)

curvetted, curveted, curvetting, curveting.

1. to cause to make a curvet.

curvet British  

/ kɜːˈvɛt /

noun

1. dressage a low leap with all four feet off the ground

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verb

1. dressage to make or cause to make such a leap

2. (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; curve ) + -ette -ette ( def. )

Example Sentences

You never know when a squirrel will curvet from the fence to the shed and then acrobatically vault to a nearby tree branch.

From Fox News

"Have you seen them, grandpapa?" she asked, curvetting round him, as he proceeded at gentle pace across the lawn.

From Project Gutenberg

The horses of his body-guard began to paw and curvet to free their feet as the loose reins tightened on their necks.

From Project Gutenberg

The leaders, in the meantime, had run straight into a draper's shop, and were curveting about on the top of four or five school children, whom they had hustled to the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

The sea seemed almost boundless, and dashed in noisy surges below, while the birds curveted and screamed above.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bounce
• bound
• dive
• drop
• fall
• hop
• plummet
• skip
• surge
• take
• top
• vault