\Can"ter\, n. [An abbreviation of Caner bury. See
Canterbury gallop, under {Canterbury}.]
1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding.
Note: 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.
2. A rapid or easy passing over.
         A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics.
                                               --Sir J.
                                               Stephen.

\Can"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Cantered}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Cantering}.]
To move in a canter.

\Can"ter\, v. t.
To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at
a canter.

\Cant"er\, n.
1. One who cants or whines; a beggar.
2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one
   who uses canting language.
         The day when he was a canter and a rebel.
                                               --Macaulay.