n. A light leap by a horse, in which both hind legs leave the ground just before the forelegs are set down. v. cur·vet·ted, cur·vet·ting, cur·vets or cur·vet·ed or cur·vet·ing v.intr. 1. To leap in a curvet. 2. To prance; frolic. v.tr. To cause to leap in a curvet. [Italian corvetta, from Old Italian, from Old French courbette, from courber, to curve, from Latin curvāre, from curvus, curved; see sker-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.