[a. F. caracole-r, It. caracollare to caracol, wheel about: see prec.]
1. intr. Of a horseman or horse: To execute a caracol or caracols. Often used loosely for ‘to caper about.’ Also transf. of other animals.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Caracol, to cast themselvs into a round ring, as souldiers do.
1785. Sportsman’s Dict., To caracol is to go in the form of half rounds.
1813. Scott, Trierm., II. xix. Now caracoled the steeds in air.
1840. Thackeray, Catherine, ii. The Captain on his … steed caracolling majestically.
1861. G. Meredith, Evan Harrington, xli. 466. Once that sound used to set me caracoling before an abject multitude.
2. trans. To make (a horse) caracol.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 44. He was fond, too, of caracolling his horse.
1845. Saunders, Cab. Pict., Chaucer, 82. The youthful knight … caracolled his horse along the pavement.
Hence Carracoling, -colling vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1857), I. I. VII. vi. 205. Caracoling Bodyguards.
1843. Miall, Nonconf., III. 209. We crave indulgence for a little caracolling.
