Category:Canter

Can"ter, n. Etym: [An abbreviation of Caner bury. See Canterbury gallop, under Canterbury.]

1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding.

Note: The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches. . . There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy. . . to define any one of them. J. H. Walsh.

2. A rapid or easy passing over. A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics. Sir J. Stephen.

canter Can"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cantering.]

Defn: To move in a canter.

canter Can"ter, v. t.

Defn: To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a canter.

canter Cant"er, n.

1. One who cants or whines; a beggar.

2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses canting language. The day when he was a canter and a rebel. Macaulay.