gait

[geyt]

noun

1. a manner of walking, stepping, or running.

   Synonyms: carriage, bearing, stride, step, walk

2. any of the manners in which a horse moves, as a walk, trot, canter, gallop, or rack.

verb (used with object)

1. to teach a specified gait or gaits to (a horse).

gait

/ ɡeɪt /

noun

1. manner of walking or running; bearing

2. (used esp of horses and dogs) the pattern of footsteps at various speeds, as the walk, trot, canter, etc, each pattern being distinguished by a particular rhythm and footfall

verb

1. (tr) to teach (a horse) a particular gait

Word History and Origins

Origin of gait¹

1500–10; Scots, Middle English spelling variant of gate ¹ in various senses

Word History and Origins

Origin of gait¹

C16: variant of _gate ¹

Example Sentences

“If we ask Old Timothy to explain, he will do this,” Beowulf grunted enigmatically, and walked away, in a fine imitation of Old Timothy’s rolling, bowlegged gait.

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Then his rolling gait retreated into the fog as the great red Bloomer engine huffed into the station, billowing steam.

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Her waddling gait was a snail’s pace compared to the ostrich’s swift departure, but for Mrs. Clarke it was remarkably quick.

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He turned and began walking back to the house with his quick, rolling gait.

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Along with others, I noticed his unsteady gait.

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Related Words

• bearing 

When To Use

What does gait mean?

Gait means the way a person or animal walks or runs.Gait is often used in the context of horses and show dogs when analyzing how they walk, trot, and run. The human gait is studied in medicine and in sports like running. Gait can also be used as a verb meaning to teach a horse a particular gait.Example: You can tell that his gait is affected by a limp.