From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”).
Meanings
A prancing movement.
There seemed a little prance of triumph in his movement, 1915, D. H. Lawrence, The Rainbow:
From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”).
Meanings
(of a horse) To spring forward on the hind legs.
(colloquial, figuratively) To strut about in a showy manner.
“So, so beautiful. I'm gonna do one last roly-poly before we go. [snorting, squealing] At least I had one moment of joy in a life of drudgery. Where will the truffle hunt take us next?” “Nowhere. You're free, Jambone. I'm releasing you from nose jail.” “Really? I can stay here in this paradise and prance and frolic?” “Just stick to frolicking.” “[emotional] Thank you, Mr. Bender. You're the kindest person I've ever met.” “Really? [crying] That's horrible.” 2025 September 15, David A. Goodman, “The Trouble with Truffles” (18:04 from the start), in Futurama, season 10, episode 9, spoken by Jambone (Maria Bamford):
John's daughter was prancing about the sitting room, practicing for her school dance.
mi pīkarikari (to strut) · it fare un'impennata (of a horse) · da spankulere (to strut) · ru ва́жничать (to strut) · nl steigeren (of a horse) · es alardear (to strut) · ru станови́ться на дыбы́ (of a horse) · pt empinar (of a horse) · fr se cabrer (of a horse) · es pavonearse (to strut) · ar اِسْتَنَاصَ (of a horse) · pt pavonear-se (to strut) · tr kasılmak (to strut) · fr parader (to strut) · cy ymsythu (of a horse) · eo pranci (of a horse) · ca presumir (to strut) · no sprade (to strut) · bg изправям се на задни крака (of a horse) · tr şaha kalkmak (of a horse) · cy prancio (to strut) · es encabritarse (of a horse) · ar نَاصَ (of a horse) · it impennare (of a horse) · oc se palaissar (to strut) · tr şahlanmak (of a horse) · oc s'espompir (to strut) · ca alzinar (of a horse) · ru встать на дыбы́ (of a horse) · ca encabritar (of a horse) · oc se pavonar (to strut) · ru гарцева́ть (to strut) · oc se cabrar (of a horse) · nl paraderen (to strut) · es escarcear (of a horse) · da stejle (of a horse) · cy ymgodi (of a horse) · cmn 騰躍 /腾跃 (of a horse) · ru встава́ть на дыбы́ (of a horse) · oc se quilhar (of a horse) · bg ходя важно (to strut)