prance

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”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹæn(t)s/
• Rhymes: -æns

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɹɑːn(t)s/
• Rhymes: -ɑːns

prance (third-person singular simple present prances, present participle prancing, simple past and past participle pranced)

1. (of a horse) To spring forward on the hind legs.
2. (colloquial, figuratively) To strut about in a showy manner.

   John's daughter was prancing about the sitting room, practicing for her school dance.

   • 2025 September 15, David A. Goodman, “The Trouble with Truffles” (18:04 from the start), in Futurama‎^[1], season 10, episode 9, spoken by Jambone (Maria Bamford):

     “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.”

• prancesome
• prancy

prance (plural prances)

1. A prancing movement.
   • 1915, D. H. Lawrence, The Rainbow:

     There seemed a little prance of triumph in his movement,

• parcen