n. [ An abbreviation of Canterbury. See Canterbury gallop, under Canterbury. ] 1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches . . . There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to define any one of them. J. H. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A rapid or easy passing over. [ 1913 Webster ]

A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics. Sir J. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cantered p. pr. & vb. n. Cantering. ] To move in a canter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a canter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who cants or whines; a beggar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses canting language. [ 1913 Webster ]

The day when he was a canter and a rebel. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. 1. A city in England, giving its name various articles. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury (primate of all England), and contains the shrine of Thomas à Becket, to which pilgrimages were formerly made. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stand with divisions in it for holding music, loose papers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Canterbury ball (Bot.), a species of Campanula of several varieties, cultivated for its handsome bell-shaped flowers. --
Canterbury gallop, a gentle gallop such as was used by pilgrims riding to Canterbury; a canter. --
Canterbury tale, one of the tales which Chaucer puts into the mouths of certain pilgrims to Canterbury. Hence, any tale told by travelers to pass away the time. [ 1913 Webster ]