Also 8 jant. [Goes with JAUNT v., which is evidenced a little earlier.
In sense 1, it varied with jaunce, whether as a real variant or from scribal confusion of t and c is uncertain.]
1. A fatiguing or troublesome journey. (Now only as an ironical use of 2: cf. a dance.)
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. v. 26 (1st Qo.). Lord how my bones ake: Fie what a iaunt [2nd Qo. iaunce, 1st Fol. iaunt] haue I had.
1599. Warn. Faire Wom., II. 270. Where have I been? where I have had a jaunt Able to tire a horse.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth (1702), 215. This Part have I run over: and led my Reader a long and tedious Jaunt in tracing out these … mineral Bodies.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., A Jaunt, a tedious, fatiguing Walk.
1752. J. Stewart, in Scots Mag. (1753), 552/1. I arrived here, after a very troublesome jaunt.
1756. Washington, Lett., Writ. 1889, I. 360. Last night I returned from a very long and troublesome jaunt on the Frontiers.
1879. Browning, Ivan Ivanov., 52. This rough jaunt—alone through night and snow.
2. An excursion, a trip, or journey, esp. one taken for pleasure.
1678. R. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor. (1702), 413. The next Day they take the same Jaunt over again.
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, V. xliii. (1737). 186. She … made him take a Jant [le feit cheminer] nine Times round the Fountain.
1725. G. Rochfort, Lett. to Swift, in S.’s Wks. (1841), II. 577. If you have not got rid of your cold, I would prescribe a small jaunt to Belcamp this morning.
1736. H. Walpole, Corr. (1820), I. 8. I have been a jaunt to Oxford.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 67. Your idle jaunts, taken for amusement only.
1809. Pinkney, Trav. France, 120. The French gentry of late have become so fond of jaunts of pleasure.
1866. Carlyle, Remin., I. 203. He was on his marriage jaunt.
† 3. Jaunty carriage of the body. Obs. rare–1.
1721. Amherst, Terræ Filius, xlvi. (1726), 256. He has a delicate jaunt in his gait.
