tantivy

adverb|tan-TIV-ee

Definition

:

at a gallop

Did You Know?

Tantivyis an adverb as well as a noun that refers to a rapid gallop. Although its precise origin isn't known, one theory has it thattantivyrepresents the sound of a galloping horses hooves. The noun does double duty as a word meaning "the blare of a trumpet or horn." This is probably due to confusion withtantara, a word for the sound of a trumpet that came about as an imitation of that sound. Bothtantivyandtantarawere used during foxhunts; in the heat of the chase, people may have jumbled the two.

Examples of TANTIVY

The horse rushedtantivyover the dirt roads that wound through the fields and pastures.

"Thus it came about that Denby and his man, ridingtantivyto the rescue, met the raiders two miles down the trail."

Francis Lynde,The Helpers, 1899