Horsing Around

Doug from Traverse City asked about two words, chivalry and cavort. I have to believe that he knew about their connection in advance and was simply testing me. That happens frequently during the show. Stump the Professor has become a popular game.

The connection between the two is the horse. Chivalry is a cognate of cavalry; it refers to horsemen. In the Middle Ages, it came to signify the code of conduct supposedly lived by knights. It was a blend of religious, social, and ethical elements.

Cavort originally meant to prance about like a horse. Applied to a human, it meant to frolic or to play around, generally in an aimless manner.

Another word connected to horse surprised me. It’s chagrin. Now it means disappointment resulting from being thwarted. Originally in English it was spelled shagreen, and it referred to the rough skin on the rump of a horse.

Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition

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Cavalcade

Recent news reports mentioned that Detroit automakers are going to form a cavalcade of fuel-efficient vehicles and drive them to Washington, D.C., to convince lawmakers to bail them out. It’s their attempt to atone for Jetgate, but it’s still a lot of horsepower.

Buried in the word cavalcade is the Latin word for horse, caballus. Originally, a cavalcade was a procession on horseback, especially on a festive or solemn occasion. The word was also loosely used for a procession of carriages, so the Big Three will be honoring an ancient tradition.

Cavalier (and its many permutations) referred to a horseman, especially a knight or horse-soldier. The Spanish equivalent was the caballero.

In Louisiana and Texas, cavallard was a term used by the caravans which cross the prairies to denote a band of horses or mules. In the southwest, caballada was a herd or train of horses or mules.

Cavallarice was once in vogue to designate horsemanship, and a cavallerize was a riding-master or professor of horsemanship. While it’s not used too often these days, caballine is an adjective equivalent to equine.

Cavalry, of course, is the collective name for horse-soldiers, that part of a military force which consists of mounted troops. In contrast, infantry consisted of foot soldiers.

SIDEBAR: U.S. Cavalry Association



Now available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition


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