prancer

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A horse.—Ancient Cant. In modern slang an officer of cavalry.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “prancer” mean?

A horse.—Ancient Cant. In modern slang an officer of cavalry.

Is “prancer” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.