prance

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To strut about in a showy manner.

   John's daughter was prancing about the sitting room, practicing for her school dance.

2. 2
   noun

   A prancing movement.

   There seemed a little prance of triumph in his movement,

3. 3
   noun

   a proud stiff pompous gait

4. 4
   verb

   to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others

5. 5
   verb

   ride a horse such that it springs and bounds forward

6. 6
   verb

   cause (a horse) to bound spring forward

7. 7
   verb

   spring forward on the hind legs

8. 8
   verb

   To spring forward on the hind legs.

Etymology

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”).