capriole

Meanings

Noun

• A leap that a horse makes with all fours, upwards only, without advancing, but with a kick or jerk of the hind legs when at the height of the leap.
• A leap or caper, as in dancing.

Verb

• To leap; to caper.
• To cause (one's mounted horse) to perform a capriole.

Origin

• Borrowed from French capriole, from Italian capriola.