tantivy

1 of 2

adverb

tan·​tivy tan-ˈti-vē 

: at a gallop

tantivy

2 of 2

noun

plural tantivies

1

: a rapid gallop or ride

2

: tantara

Did you know?

Tantivy is an adverb as well as a noun that refers to a rapid gallop. Although its precise origin isn't known, one theory has it that tantivy represents the sound of a galloping horse’s hooves. The noun does double duty as a word meaning "the blare of a trumpet or horn." This is probably due to confusion with tantara, a word for the sound of a trumpet that came about as an imitation of that sound. Both tantivy and tantara were used during foxhunts; in the heat of the chase, people may have jumbled the two.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Adverb

1641, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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