/ ˈkæntə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
[ usually sing. ] a movement of a horse at a speed that is fairly fast but not very fast; a ride on a horse moving at this speed :
She set off at a canter.
■ verb
( of a horse or rider ) to move or make a horse move at a canter :
[ v ]
We cantered along the beach.
[also vn ]
—compare gallop , trot
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent. (as a verb): short for Canterbury pace or Canterbury gallop , from the supposed easy pace of medieval pilgrims to Canterbury, a city in Kent, SE England.