Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In the manège, one of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he makes a half turn with the fore legs raised.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Man.) A half vault; one of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he raises his fore legs in a particular manner.

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

  • noun A half vault; one of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he raises his forelegs in a particular manner.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Compare French demi-volte.

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Examples

  • The address of the riders recovered their steeds by use of the bridle and spur; and having glared on each other for an instant with eyes which seemed to flash fire through the bars of their visors, each made a demivolt, and retiring to the extremity of the 10 lists, received a fresh lance from the attendants.

    Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year 1923

  • The result was that the horse, to La Certe's unutterable surprise, made a sudden demivolt into the air -- without the usual persuasion -- almost unseated its rider, and fled over the prairie like a thing possessed!

    The Buffalo Runners A Tale of the Red River Plains 1859

  • Philibert,” said the knight, executing a demivolt, in order to hide his emotion.

    Novels by Eminent Hands 2006

  • Philibert,” said the knight, executing a demivolt, in order to hide his emotion.

    Burlesques 2006

  • Tell me of home -- of our native valley -- of my hearth, and my lady-mother, and my good chaplain -- tell me of HER, Philibert, "said the knight, executing a demivolt, in order to hide his emotion.

    Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray 1837

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