tantivy
Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- adverb At full tilt
- noun A rapid gallop
- noun The sound of a hunting horn in imitation of a galloping horse
Examples
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He was of a nature to ride tantivy into anything that promised excitement or adventure.
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Rather than face death and the death-fear, in an attempt to flee the unfleeable he had thrown every other consideration to the winds, and ridden tantivy into the unknown.
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Ten minutes later, everyone was back in their seats and Tom, who had purloined the horn from the long basket attached to the side of the guard's seat, blew a tantivy into the night and Duncan, muffled from neck to heels in the big coat, set the horses in motion.
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Is it strange that I became known as the wildest tantivy boy that rode with the King?
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Don't let him slip through your fingers for a day; hunt him from lodging to lodging, from tavern to tavern, into jail and out of jail -- tantivy, yoicks, hark-forward!
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He then put his horn to his mouth, and blew such a loud and long tantivy, that the giant awoke, and came towards Jack, roaring like thunder: "You saucy villain, you shall pay dearly for breaking my rest; I will broil you for my breakfast."
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These martial strains seemed as far away as Palestine, and reminded me of a march of crusaders in the horizon, with a slight tantivy and tremulous motion of the elm-tree tops which overhang the village.
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Friar John began to paw, neigh, and whinny at the snout's end, as one ready to leap, or at least to play the ass, and get up and ride tantivy to the devil like a beggar on horseback.
Note
The origin of 'tantivy' is unknown, but it may come from the sound of a hunting horn or echo the noise of galloping hooves.
