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set the pace

 [peys]   Origin

pace

1   [peys] noun, verb, paced, pac·ing.
noun
1.
a rate of movement, especially in stepping, walking, etc.: to walk at a brisk pace of five miles an hour.
2.
a rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.; tempo.
3.
any of various standard linear measures, representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking: roughly 30 to 40 inches (75 cm to 1 meter). Compare geometrical pace, military pace, Roman pace.
4.
a single step: She took three paces in the direction of the door.
5.
the distance covered in a step: Stand six paces inside the gates.
EXPAND
6.
a manner of stepping; gait.
7.
a gait of a horse or other animal in which the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together.
8.
any of the gaits of a horse.
9.
a raised step or platform.
COLLAPSE
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verb (used with object)
10.
to set the pace for, as in racing.
11.
to traverse or go over with steps: He paced the floor nervously.
12.
to measure by paces.
13.
to train to a certain pace; exercise in pacing: to pace a horse.
14.
(of a horse) to run (a distance) at a pace: Hanover II paced a mile.

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So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
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verb (used without object)
15.
to take slow, regular steps.
16.
to walk up and down nervously, as to expend nervous energy.
17.
(of a horse) to go at a pace.
Idioms
18.
put through one's paces, to cause someone to demonstrate his or her ability or to show her or his skill: The French teacher put her pupils through their paces for the visitors.
19.
set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal or rival; be the most progressive or successful: an agency that sets the pace in advertising.
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English pas < Old French < Latin passus step, pace, equivalent to pad-, variant stem of pandere to spread (the legs, in walking) + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > ss

Synonyms
8. step, amble, rack, trot, jog, canter, gallop, walk, run, singlefoot. 15. Pace, plod, trudge refer to a steady and monotonous kind of walking. Pace suggests steady, measured steps as of one completely lost in thought or impelled by some distraction: to pace up and down. Plod implies a slow, heavy, laborious, weary walk: The mailman plods his weary way. Trudge implies a spiritless but usually steady and doggedly persistent walk: The farmer trudged to his village to buy his supplies.

Antonyms
15. scurry, scamper, skip.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

pace
"with the leave of," 1863, from L. pace, abl. of pax "peace," as in pace tua "with all deference to you;" from PIE *pak- "to fasten" (see pax).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

set the pace

Establish a standard for others to follow, as in Jim has set the pace for the department, exceeding the monthly quota every time. This expression comes from racing, where it is said of a horse that passes the others and leads the field. It was transferred to other activities in the early 1900s.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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