gallop

[ gal-uhp ]

verb (used without object)

1. to ride a horse at a gallop; ride at full speed:

   They galloped off to meet their friends.

2. to run rapidly by leaps, as a horse; go at a gallop.
3. to go fast, race, or hurry, as a person or time.

   Synonyms: scoot, fly, speed, dash, rush, run

verb (used with object)

1. to cause (a horse or other animal) to gallop.

noun

1. a fast gait of the horse or other quadruped in which, in the course of each stride, all four feet are off the ground at once.
2. a run or ride at this gait.
3. a rapid rate of going.
4. a period of going rapidly.

gallop

/ ˈɡæləp /

verb

1. intr (of a horse or other quadruped) to run fast with a two-beat stride in which all four legs are off the ground at once
2. to ride (a horse, etc) at a gallop
3. intr to move, read, talk, etc, rapidly; hurry

noun

1. the fast two-beat gait of horses and other quadrupeds
2. an instance of galloping

Derived Forms

• ˈgalloper, noun

Other Words From

• gallop·er noun
• outgallop verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallop¹

1375–1425; late Middle English galopen (v.) < Old French galoper < Frankish *wala hlaupan to run well ( well ¹, leap ) or, alternatively, verbal derivative of *walhlaup, equivalent to *wal battlefield (cognate with Old High German wal; Valkyrie ) + *hlaup run, course (derivative of the v.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallop¹

C16: from Old French galoper, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

But the jolly tone gives way to something fiercer and more appropriately epic: a galloping rhythm on the drums, insistent bass and scorching guitar notes.

From New York Times

And I really ought to extol the graciously ironic handling of “Chrysanthemum Tea,” one of those oh-so-clever Sondheim numbers that spans enormous dramatic territory in a manner so catchy that the song seems to gallop.

From Los Angeles Times

Just inside, Max Streicher’s “Quadriga” stages massive billowing horses that call to mind wingless Pegasi the way they seem to gallop through the air.

From Los Angeles Times

I stood behind the curtain, my palms suddenly sweating, my heartbeat galloping in my ears.

From Salon

“They couldn’t hold up the frenetic gallop we had.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amble
• dart
• dash
• hurry
• lope
• stride
• trot
• zoom