v. U.S. vulgar. [Etymology uncertain. Bartlett says, a corruption of curvet.
The Slang Dict., 1874, has ‘Cavaulting, in vulgar phrase equivalent to “horsing”; Lingua Franca cavolta. From this comes the Americanism “cavorting” running or riding around in a heedless or purposeless manner.’ But these statements require verification. Webster (Suppl.) conjectures Sp. cavar to dig, excavate, paw as a horse; which has nothing to recommend it.]
intr. To curvet, prance, caper about, frisk, bound: said of a horse, or rider, and hence transf.
1835. A. B. Longstreet, Georgia Scenes, 21 (Bartlett). On horseback … he cavorted most magnanimously.
a. 1848. Major Jones’s Courtship, 41 (Bartlett). A whole gang … cum ridin up and reinin in, and prancin and cavortin about.
1843. Haliburton, Attaché, xv. 260–1 (Hoppe). Old Clay in a pastur … snortin’, cavortin’, attitudinisin’ of himself.
1843. Greensboro’ Patriot, 22 July 3/3. They ‘rear,’ and ‘cavort,’ and ‘tromp round,’ and ‘snort,’ and thunder forth terrible sayings against Barringer, Edney, and whiggery in general.
1873. J. M. Bailey, Life in Danbury, 98. For one whole hour you have been cavorting around on that bed. Ibid., 180. A snapping and cracking, and general cavorting of hemlock timber, new shingles, window glass.
1883. B. Harte, Carquinez Woods, i. 9. Cavorting round this yer spot for the last half-hour.
