curvet
1 of 2noun
cur·vet (ˌ)kər-ˈvet 
: a prancing leap of a horse in which the hind legs are raised just before the forelegs touch the ground
curvet
2 of 2verb
curvetted or curveted; curvetting or curveting
intransitive verb
: to make a curvet
also : prance, caper
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Italian corvetta, from Middle French courbette, from courber to curve, from Latin curvare
First Known Use
Noun
1575, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined above
curvets
verb
as in dances
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dances
- horses around
- prances
- lopes
- revels
- bounds
- springs
- capers
- hops
- gambols
- leaps
- roisters
- sports
- carouses
- cavorts
- romps
- larks
- skips
- trips
- frolics
- cuts up
- frisks
- clowns
- tumbles
- kites
- fools around
- roughhouses
- rollicks
- disports
- carries on
- skylarks
- joyrides
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pouts
- stews
- sulks
- mopes