CURVET (curvetted, curvetting)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: curvetted    , curvetting   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does curvet mean? 

• CURVET (noun)
  The noun CURVET has 1 sense:

1. a light leap by a horse in which both hind legs leave the ground before the forelegs come down

  Familiarity information: CURVET used as a noun is very rare.

• CURVET (verb)
  The verb CURVET has 1 sense:

1. perform a leap where both hind legs come off the ground, of a horse

  Familiarity information: CURVET used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CURVET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light leap by a horse in which both hind legs leave the ground before the forelegs come down

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

curvet; vaulting

Hypernyms ("curvet" is a kind of...):

dressage (maneuvers of a horse in response to body signals by the rider)

Derivation:

curvet (perform a leap where both hind legs come off the ground, of a horse)

• CURVET (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perform a leap where both hind legs come off the ground, of a horse

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "curvet" is one way to...):

bound; jump; leap; spring (move forward by leaps and bounds)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

curvet (a light leap by a horse in which both hind legs leave the ground before the forelegs come down)

 Context examples 

Yet with consummate horsemanship they both swung round in a long curvet, and then plucking out their swords they lashed at each other like two lusty smiths hammering upon an anvil.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He backed away from her and began writhing and twisting playfully, curvetting and prancing, half rearing and striking his fore paws to the earth, struggling with all his body, from the wheedling eyes and flattening ears to the wagging tail, to express the thought that was in him and that was denied him utterance.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

There were two cross-roads before they reached the Lymington Ford, and at each of then Sir Nigel pulled up his horse, and waited with many a curvet and gambade, craning his neck this way and that to see if fortune would send him a venture.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)