Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A movement in which a horse trots in place with high action of the legs.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of piaffing. Sometimes called Spanish walk.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A dressage movement in which a horse trots in a stationary position while using high lifting of the legs.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from piaffer, to strut, piaffe.]

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Examples

  • Marshal found that a tough resistance awaited him, although the allied commander-in-chief, Bernadotte, moved with the utmost caution, as if he were bent on justifying Napoleon's recent sneer that he would "only make a show" (_piaffer_).

    The Life of Napoleon I (Volume 2 of 2) John Holland Rose 1898

  • The animal, being unable to advance, was lifting his legs up and down (doing the _piaffer_), and sighing and groaning in agony.

    The Horsewoman A Practical Guide to Side-Saddle Riding, 2nd. Ed. Alice M. Hayes 1873

Comments

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  • A movement in which a horse trots in place with high action of the legs.

    November 19, 2007