capriole

noun

cap·​ri·​ole ˈka-prē-ˌōl 

1

: a playful leap : caper

2

: a vertical leap by a trained horse that is made with a backward kick of the hind legs at the height of the leap

capriole intransitive verb

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French capriole, from Old Italian capriola, from capriolo roebuck, from Latin capreolus goat, roebuck, from capr-, caper he-goat; akin to Old English hæfer goat, Greek kapros wild boar

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1