cavortv.

1794 W. B. Grove Let. 2 Apr. in Papers of John Steele (1924) I. 106 The Hon. J–e ‘cauvauted’, don't laugh at the expression, it suits the idea I meant to convey.

1829 Virginia Lit. Museum 16 Dec. 419 Cavault or Cavort, ranting, highflying.—West.

1830 A. Royall Lett. From Alabama 122 Covault is of Tennessee birth and not inaptly applied in the sense they use it. It signifies an unruly or ungovernable man; also an untame horse, or anything that cannot be controlled.

1830 Illinois Monthly Mag. 71 The most amusing individuals..were cavorting... Cavorting..expresses the conduct of an individual who fancies himself the smartest and best man in the world.

1834 W. G. Simms Guy Rivers II. iv. 62 You were then cavorting about her in great style.

1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes On horseback..he cavorted most magnanimously.

1843–4 T. C. Haliburton Attaché xv Old Clay in a pastur'..snortin', cavortin', attitudinizin' of himself.

1844 W. T. Thompson Major Jones's Courtship (ed. 2) v. 41 A whole gang..cum ridin up, and reinin in, and prancin and cavortin.

1873 J. M. Bailey Life in Danbury 58 For one whole hour you have been cavorting around on that bed.

1873 J. M. Bailey Life in Danbury 110 A snapping and cracking, and general cavorting of hemlock timber, new shingles, window glass.

1883 B. Harte In Carquinez Woods i. 9 Cavorting round this yer spot for the last half-hour.

1895 Punch 30 Mar. 147/3 Yet 'twere no lark, To see the trees cavorting round the Park.

1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay (U.K. ed.) iii. iii. 356 She described the knights of the age of chivalry as ‘korvorting about on the off-chance of a dragon’.

1933 Catholic Truth July 149/2 Learned dons and scientists..cavorting about like cows in clover.

1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes (1871) 30 Bullet became more and more cavortish, insomuch that, when the blanket came off, he had reached the kicking point in good earnest.