[f. VAULT v.2; but in fig. uses (see 3 and 4) perh. partly suggested by the etymological sense of L. fornicātio.]
1. The action of leaping with a vault, esp. as a gymnastic exercise.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xvii. There is also a ryght good exercise … whiche is named the vautynge [printed vauntynge] of a horse: that is to lepe on him at euery side without stiroppe or other helpe, specially whiles the horse is goynge. Ibid. (1545), Dict., Desultura, lyghtynge vp and down, vaultyng of an horse.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 13. I maie commende hym for playing at weapons,… for vautyng, for plaiyng vpon Instrumentes.
1627. Hakewill, Apol. (1630), 365. These forraine exercises of vauting and dancing the Moriske.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 644. Ralpho was mounted now, and gotten O’erthwart his Beast with active vau’ting.
1700. Wallis in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 318. Vaulting, leaping, and the like, are now much disused, as too violent for this softer age.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rur. Sports, 443/2. By vaulting a man can easily clear his own height, and often considerably more.
fig. 1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, I. iii. 182. Tullus goe scotfree, though thou often bragst, That for a false French-Crowne thou vaulting hadst.
2. Vaulting horse: † a. A horse mounted by vaulting, esp. one used for the exercise of leaping into the saddle without the help of a stirrup. Obs.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Desultorij equi, vaultyng horses that light souldiours vsed in warre.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., III. ix. I’ld spend twentie pound my vauting-horse stood here now.
1623. Hexham, Tongue-Combat, Ep. Ded. 3. His Puppet … ouer whom hee insults, as vpon a vaulting-horse lowe enough for his leape.
1630. B. Jonson, New Inn, I. i. Instead of backing the brave steed o’ mornings, To mount the chambermaid; and for a leap Of the vaulting-horse, to ply the vaulting-house.
b. Gymnastics. A wooden figure of a horse employed for exercise in vaulting.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2694/1. Vaulting horse, a wooden horse in a gymnasium, for practice in vaulting.
1884. Health Exhib. Catal., 127/1. All kinds of Gymnastic Apparatus,… including … Vaulting Horses, Vaulting Bucks, Vaulting Tables.
1898. Daily News, 23 March, 6/2. The squad representing the School of Arms gave a very neat exhibition of vaulting-horse work.
† 3. Vaulting-house, a brothel. Also vaulting-door, the door of such a place. Obs.
(a) 1596. Lodge, Wits Miserie, I iiij. Let him but looke into a vawting house, he shall play his tricks without charges.
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sins, IV. (Arb.), 32. Letchery is patron of al your Suburb Colledges, and sets vp Vaulting-houses, and Daunsing-Schooles.
1639. Massinger, Unnatural Combat, I. i. Let me but receive My pay that is behind, to set me up A tavern or a vaulting-house. While men love Or drunkenness or lechery, they’ll ne’er fail me.
(b) 1625. Massinger, Parl. Love, IV. iii. No more talking, Dear keeper of the vaulting door; lead on.
† 4. Vaulting-school: a. = prec. b. (See quot. a. 1700). Obs.
1606. H. Parrot, Mousetrap, 93. Vnto a Garden-house, or Vaulting-schoole.
1637. Nabbes, Microcosm., II. Ayre was my father, and my mother a light-heel’d madame that kept a vaulting-schoole at the signe of Virgo.
1672. Wycherley, Love in Wood, IV. v. Must my lodging be your vaulting-school still? Thou hast appointed a wench to come hither, I find.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Vaulting-School, a Bawdy-house; also an Academy where Vaulting, and other Manly Exercises are Taught. [Hence in later slang Dicts.]
5. attrib. in various uses, as vaulting bar, buck, -master, motion.
1641. W. Stokes (title), The Vaulting Master; or the Art of Vaulting reduced to a Method.
1700. Wallis, in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 317. Mr. Bosely (then a dancing-master and vaulting-master here).
1771. M. Lort, in J. Granger, Lett. (1805), 194. He [sc. William Stokes] was a noted vaulting-master and rope-dancer.
1834. D. Walker’s Manly Exerc., 23. This exercise is conveniently practised on the vaulting bar, which rests upon two or three posts.
1849. Chambers’s Inform. People, II. 643/2. Exercises [in vaulting] are performed with vaulting bars.
1870. Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, Chess, 40. The Knight is the only piece that possesses what is styled the ‘vaulting motion.’
1884. [see 2 b].
