Galloper

gal·lop  (glp)

n.

1.

a. A natural three-beat gait of a horse, faster than a canter, in which all four feet are off the ground at the same time during each stride.

b. A fast running motion of other quadrupeds.

2. A ride taken at a gallop.

3. A rapid pace: Events were proceeding at a gallop.

4. Medicine A disordered rhythm of the heart characterized by three or four distinct heart sounds in each cycle and resembling the sound of a galloping horse. Also called cantering rhythm, gallop rhythm.

v. gal·loped, gal·lop·ing, gal·lops

v.tr.

1. To cause to gallop.

2. To transport at or as if at a gallop: gallop the mail to the next station.

v.intr.

1. To ride a horse at a gallop.

2. To move or progress swiftly: Summer was galloping by.

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[From Middle English galopen, to go at a gallop, from Old French galoper, of Germanic origin; see wel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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gallop·er n.