curvet

 
Pronunciation: /kəːˈvɛt/

verb (curvets, curvetting, curvetted or curvets, curveting, curveted)

[no object]
  • (of a horse) perform a courbette: Barney and Dolly curvetted for grandma’s benefit
  • leap gracefully or energetically.

noun

  • a graceful or energetic leap: he sprang from the ice in a swift, frisky curvet

Origin:

late 16th century: from Italian corvetta, diminutive of corva, earlier form of curva 'a curve', from Latin curvus 'bent'