prance

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To walk or move around proudly, trying to be noticed.

   He pranced around the room in his new suit.

2. 2
   verb

   (of a horse) To move with high, lively steps.

   The horse pranced across the field.

3. 3
   noun

   A proud, showy way of moving.

   There was a little prance of triumph in his step.

From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”).

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