Hypertext Webster Gateway: "curvet"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Curvet \Cur"vet\ (k[^u]r"v?t or k[^u]r-v?t"; 277), n. [OE.
corvet, It. corvetta: cf. F. courbette. See {Curve}, and cf.
{Corvetto}.]
1. (Man.) A particular leap of a horse, when he raises both
his fore legs at once, equally advanced, and, as his fore
legs are falling, raises his hind legs, so that all his
legs are in the air at once.
2. A prank; a frolic.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Curvet \Cur"vet\, v. t.
To cause to curvet. --Landor.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Curvet \Cur"vet\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Curveted} or {-vetted};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Curveting} or {-vetting}.] [Cf. It.
corvettare. See {Curvet}, n.]
1. To make a curvet; to leap; to bound. ``Oft and high he did
curvet.'' --Drayton.
2. To leap and frisk; to frolic. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
curvet
n : a light leap by a horse in which both hind legs leave the
ground before the forelegs come down [syn: {vaulting}]
v : perform a curvet, of a horse
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