saltantadj.
/ˈsaltənt/ 1. Leaping, jumping, dancing. Now rare or Obsolete.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > [adjective]
leaping?a1400
jumping1567
saltant1601
vaultinga1616
salient1646
saltitant1654
springing1658
boundinga1667
saltating1852
upleaping1867
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. viii. xvi. 202 When he chaseth and followeth after other beasts, hee goeth alwaies saltant or rampant.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. ii. iii. 117 This prophesying Spirit-errant, processional, and saltant.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Saltant, jumping; dancing.
1819 H. Busk Vestriad i. 676 Thou, whose turn'd legs, main pillars of the stage, Support its glory in this saltant age.
1827 J. F. Cooper Prairie II. x. 28 No professor of the saltant art ever applied himself with greater industry than [etc.].
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2. Zoology. = saltatorial adj. (In modern dictionaries.)
3. Heraldry. Applied to small animals when salient.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic representations of creatures > [adjective] > specific positions of heraldic beasts
couchantc1500
dormantc1500
sejantc1500
lodged1580
genuant1688
sedant1688
statant1688
urinant1688
springant1708
posé1725
saltant1850
1850 J. Ogilvie Imperial Dict. Saltant,..in her., a term applied to the squirrel, weasel, rat, and all vermin, and also to the cat, greyhound, ape, and monkey, when in a position springing forward.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1909; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1601