Gambades

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To leap or skip about playfully and with light-hearted movements; to move or frolic in a lively, carefree manner; to jump or bound around with energetic and joyful action
2. To perform a series of playful jumps or skips often indicating happiness or freedom; to cavort or prance in a spirited and buoyant way; to run or dance lightly with exuberant motions
3. To engage in lively, joyful hopping or skipping actions; to frisk about with carefree and spirited leaps; to move with quick, bounding steps expressing gleeful animation

Etymology: "Gambades" is the plural of "gambade," a noun (and also a verb form) meaning a playful leap or caper. The singular was borrowed from French, where "gambade" carried the sense of a horse's leap, and that horse-riding origin is the key to the word's meaning. Its roots lie in the Italian "gamba," meaning "leg," which is also the source of English "gambol," a near relative that entered English in a similar way and kept the idea of frisky leg movement.

Synonyms: leaps, bounds, jumps, prances

Antonyms: stumbles, falls, plods