Can"ter (?), n. [An abbreviation of
Caner bury. See Canterbury gallop, under
Canterbury.] 1. A moderate and easy
gallop adapted to pleasure riding.
&fist; The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at
first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be
produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels
him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches . . .
There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different
horses for performing the canter, that no single description will
suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to define any one of them.
J. H. Walsh.
2. A rapid or easy passing
over.
A rapid canter in the Times over all the
topics.
Sir J. Stephen.
Can"ter (?), v. i. [imp. &
p. p. Cantered (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Cantering.] To move in a
canter.
Can"ter, v. t. To cause, as a
horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a
canter.
Cant"er, n. 1.
One who cants or whines; a beggar.
2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions
to goodness; one who uses canting language.
The day when he was a canter and a
rebel.
Macaulay.
