I. ˈkarəˌkōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Spanish caracol snail, spiral stair, caracole (of a horse), perhaps modification of Latin conchylium shellfish — more at cockle
1. : a staircase in a spiral form
2.
a. : a half turn either to the right or the left executed by a mounted horse
b. : a turning, wheeling, prancing, or capering movement
his dog … came around the corner … with a caracole — Paul Horgan
II. verb
( caracoled also caracolled ; caracoled also caracolled ; caracoling also caracolling ; caracoles )
Etymology: French caracoler, from caracole
intransitive verb
1. : to perform a caracole or move in caracoles
2. : to ride a caracoling horse
transitive verb
: to cause to caracole