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prance

[prans, prahns]
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verb (used without object), pranced, pranc·ing.
  1. to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse.
  2. to ride on a horse doing this.
  3. to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently.
  4. to move or go in an elated manner; cavort.
  5. to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner; caper.
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verb (used with object), pranced, pranc·ing.
  1. to cause to prance.
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noun
  1. 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
Related formspranc·er, nounpranc·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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4, 5. gambol, leap, skip, romp, frolic, frisk.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

sashayswaggergambolstrutcaperboundparaderompdanceskipmincespringsweepjumpstepstalkfriskleapflouncetread

Examples from the Web for prancing

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • They were then halfway to the ship, with Murgatroyd prancing on ahead.

    Pariah Planet

    Murray Leinster

  • He's a prancing beast, and so we mustn't startle him—not till I have located the stuff.

    Victory

    Joseph Conrad

  • “Heap big Injun chief,” announced Bobby, prancing about in his suit.

  • Now the fame of Prue and her prancing was not long pent up in Carthage.

    In a Little Town

    Rupert Hughes

  • I'd have had you prancing to the tune of the wedding march before now.

    The Trail of '98

    Robert W. Service

British Dictionary definitions for prancing

prance

verb
  1. (intr) to swagger or strut
  2. (intr) to caper, gambol, or dance about
  3. (intr)
    1. (of a horse) to move with high lively springing steps
    2. to ride a horse that moves in this way
  4. (tr) to cause to prance
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noun
  1. the act or an instance of prancing
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Derived Formsprancer, nounprancingly, adverb

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for prancing

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