canter

¹

[ kan-ter ]

noun

1. an easy gallop.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to move or ride at a canter.

canter

²

[ kan-ter ]

noun

1. a person who is much given to the use of cant.

canter

/ ˈkæntə /

noun

1. an easy three-beat gait of horses, etc, between a trot and a gallop in speed
2. at a canter
   easily; without effort

   he won at a canter

verb

1. to move or cause to move at a canter

Word History and Origins

Origin of canter¹

First recorded in 1745–55; short for Canterbury to ride at a pace like that of Canterbury pilgrims

Origin of canter²

First recorded in 1870–75; cant ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of canter¹

C18: short for Canterbury trot, the supposed pace at which pilgrims rode to Canterbury

Example Sentences

New Zealand flanker Dalton Papali'i had just picked off his pass and cantered in to give New Zealand a seven-point head start.

From BBC

"Last season it turned into a bit of a canter for me - I've just been too good."

From BBC

“Celtic should have won this league at a canter. When you look at the two teams, they're miles ahead. The gulf is huge,” the former Scotland international said.

From BBC

We had over 20 televisions playing the same footage of horses cantering.

From Los Angeles Times

Liverpool are top of the pile approaching the end of the year, but what should have been a canter to victory turned out to be a triumph that had to be grinded out.

From BBC