Can"ter (?), n. [An abbreviation of Caner bury. See Canterbury gallop, under Canterbury.]
1.
A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding.
⇒ The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches . . . There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to define any one of them.
J. H. Walsh.
2.
A rapid or easy passing over.
A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics.
Sir J. Stephen.
© Webster 1913.
Can"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Cantering.]
To move in a canter.
© Webster 1913.
Can"ter, v. t.
To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a canter.
© Webster 1913.
Cant"er, n.
1.
One who cants or whines; a beggar.
2.
One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses canting language.
The day when he was a canter and a rebel.
Macaulay.
© Webster 1913.