cur·vet

[n. kur-vit; v. ker-vet, kur-vit] noun, verb, cur·vet·ted or cur·vet·ed, cur·vet·ting or cur·vet·ing.
noun
1.
Dressage. a leap of a horse from a rearing position, in which it springs up with the hind legs outstretched as the forelegs descend.
verb (used without object)
2.
to leap in a curvet, as a horse; cause one's horse to do this.
3.
to leap and frisk.
verb (used with object)
4.
to cause to make a curvet.

Origin:
1565–75; earlier curvetto < Italian corvetta < French courbette, equivalent to courb(er) to bend, curve (≪ Latin curvāre; cf. curve) + -ette - ette

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World English Dictionary
curvet (kɜːˈvɛt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  dressage a low leap with all four feet off the ground
 
vb , -vets, -vetting, -vetted, -vets, -veting, -veted
2.  dressage to make or cause to make such a leap
3.  (intr) to prance or frisk about
 
[C16: from Old Italian corvetta, from Old French courbette, from courber to bend, from Latin curvāre]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Curvet is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
to flee; abscond:
Example sentences
Next they began to neigh, to curvet, to scamper on all sides over the plain.
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