Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Canter?

\Can"ter\, n. [An abbreviation of Caner bury. See Canterbury gallop, under {Canterbury}.] 1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding. Note: The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches . . . There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to define any one of them. --J. H. Walsh. 2. A rapid or easy passing over. A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics. --Sir J. Stephen.
\Can"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Cantered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cantering}.] To move in a canter.
\Can"ter\, v. t. To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a canter.
\Cant"er\, n. 1. One who cants or whines; a beggar. 2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses canting language. The day when he was a canter and a rebel. --Macaulay.