[F. courbette, ad It. corvetta ‘a coruet, a sault, a prancing or continuall dancing of a horse’ (Florio).] = CURVET.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Life (1886), 74, A demivolte with courbettes … may be useful in a fight or mêlée.
1823. Scott, Peveril, vii. The horse made a courbette, and brought the full weight of his chest against the counter of the other.
