A way of walking or moving, often referring to an animal's distinctive movement pattern or a person's manner of walking.
From Middle English 'gait,' originally referring to the way a horse moves. It comes from Old Norse 'gata' meaning 'road' or 'way,' later developing to describe how one travels along that way.
Horses have different gaits—walk, trot, canter, gallop—and each one looks completely different! The word reminds us that the way creatures move is as unique as their appearance, which is why 'he had a distinctive gait' instantly paints a vivid picture of a person.
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