prance

Etymology

From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”).

verb

1. (of a horse) To spring forward on the hind legs.
2. (colloquial, figurative) To strut about in a showy manner.
   John's daughter was prancing about the sitting room, practicing for her school dance.

noun

1. A prancing movement.
   There seemed a little prance of triumph in his movement, 1915, D. H. Lawrence, The Rainbow