What does curvet mean?
A curvet is a spirited upward leap performed by a horse, in which the animal springs from its hind legs and comes down on all four hooves without lashing out behind it — distinguishing it from a buck or rear. Used as a verb, "to curvet" describes this movement, and by extension any light, bounding, or prancing gait, whether of horses, other animals, or even exuberant people. The word carries a distinctly equestrian and somewhat formal or literary register: it turns up most naturally in dressage contexts, riding manuals, hunting narratives, and descriptive prose that wants a touch of elegance. Its connotations are of vitality, training, and controlled exuberance rather than wildness, for a true curvet is a schooled manoeuvre with roots in classical horsemanship. Though not part of everyday speech, curvet rewards writers seeking precise, vivid language for graceful, springing motion.
(of a horse) to make playful upward leaps on the hind legs; (more generally) to move in a prancing or bounding manner.
"The young horse curveted along the beach, delighted with its freedom."
An upward springing leap made by a horse on its hind legs, landing on all four feet without kicking back.
"The rider brought the chestnut into a series of perfect curvets before the judges."
The standard plural simply adds -s. The verb form is typically spelled "curvetting" in British English and often "curveting" in American English.
"The display ended with a flourish of curvets down the centre line."
Dressage riders still prize the curvet — a move so showy that horses have been performing it since the days when cavalry charges were choreographed like ballet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of curvet
Curvet entered English in the late sixteenth century from French "courvette", a diminutive related to "courber", meaning to bend, which itself derives from Latin "curvare" (to bend or curve). The underlying image is of the horse's body bending and springing in the leap. It shares this Latin root with English words such as "curve" and "curvature".
Related word forms
How curvet is actually used
The word is chiefly literary and equestrian in flavour; it appears most often in descriptions of horses in dressage, hunting scenes, or historical fiction, but is sometimes applied figuratively to people or animals moving with high-spirited grace.
Easily confused with curvet
"Carve" means to cut or shape something, while "curvet" refers to a horse's springing leap.
"Curved" describes a bent or arced shape, whereas "curvet" is a leaping movement of a horse.