prance
[prans, prahns]
- to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse.
- to ride on a horse doing this.
- to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently.
- to move or go in an elated manner; cavort.
- to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner; caper.
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- to cause to prance.
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- the act of prancing; a prancing movement.
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Origin of prance
1325–75; Middle English prauncen, praunsen (v.); akin to Danish (dial.) pransk spirited, said of a horse
Synonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
prance
- (intr) to swagger or strut
- (intr) to caper, gambol, or dance about
- (intr)
- (of a horse) to move with high lively springing steps
- to ride a horse that moves in this way
- (tr) to cause to prance
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- the act or an instance of prancing
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Word Origin
C14 prauncen; perhaps related to German prangen to be in full splendour; compare Danish (dialect) pransk lively, spirited, used of a horse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for prancer
n.
1560s, originally thieves' slang for "a horse," agent noun from prance (v.).
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prance
v.
late 14c., originally of horses, of unknown origin, perhaps related to Middle English pranken "to show off," from Middle Dutch pronken "to strut, parade" (see prank); or perhaps from Danish dialectal prandse "to go in a stately manner." Klein suggests Old French paravancier. Related: Pranced; prancing. As a noun from 1751, from the verb.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper