different between scamper vs prance

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?skæmp?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?skæmp?/
• Rhymes: -æmp?(r)

Etymology 1

First attested in 1687. Origin uncertain, but possibly from Dutch schamperen, from Old French escamper, from Italian scampare (“to run away”).

Noun

scamper (plural scampers)

1. A quick, light run.

Verb

scamper (third-person singular simple present scampers, present participle scampering, simple past and past participle scampered)

1. (intransitive) To run quickly and lightly, especially in a playful or undignified manner.

   The dog scampered after the squirrel.

   • 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 1

     The younger and lighter members of his tribe scampered to the higher branches of the great trees to escape his wrath; risking their lives upon branches that scarce supported their weight rather than face old Kerchak in one of his fits of uncontrolled anger.

Synonyms

• scurry
• See also Thesaurus:walk

Translations

Etymology 2

scamp +? -er

Noun

scamper (plural scampers)

1. One who skimps or does slipshod work.

   Synonym: skimper

Anagrams

• Campers, campers

English

Etymology

From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance; literally, to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”). Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”). More at prank.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /p?æn(t)s/
• Rhymes: -æns
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p???n(t)s/
• Rhymes: -??ns

Verb

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.

Derived terms

• prancesome
• prancy

Translations

Noun

prance (plural prances)

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

     There seemed a little prance of triumph in his movement,

Anagrams

• parcen