cavort
verb/kəˈvɔːt/UK/kəˈvɔɹt/CA/kəˈvoːt/
Etymology
Originated in the United States in 1793, as cauvaut, applying to horses, probably from the colloquial intensifying prefix ca-/ka- + vault (“jump, leap”); later generalized. Early sources connect it to cavault, a term for a certain demeanor of horses. Alternatively, a variation of curvet.
Definitions
To prance, frolic, gambol.
- […] when the young man whirled his horse, “hazed” Jupiter in circles and belaboured him with a rawhide quirt, […] He ceased his cavortings […]
To move about carelessly, playfully or boisterously.
- And dragon-flies sported around and cavorted, / As poets say dragon-flies ought to do; […]
- He whirligigged and pirouetted, dancing and cavorting round like an inebriated ape.
- […]and soon a high-spirited snowball fight was being waged by dozens of happy, hyperkinetic boys cavorting in dungarees and T-shirts, in sweatsuits, in pajamas, even some in only underwear.
To engage in extravagant pursuits, especially of a sexual nature.
- As he moves back into the shadows, the stage is taken over by a troupe of Pan-like dancers, leaping and cavorting in an obscene ballet.
- We can't even write stories about moguls like Rupert Murdoch or Barry Diller unless it involves photographs of them cavorting with young flesh.
The neighborhood
- neighborhorse around
Derived
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for cavort. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA