To leap or jump, especially in a bounding way; to move with long strides.
From Old French 'loup,' meaning to leap or jump. The word has Germanic roots and is related to modern Dutch 'lopen' (to walk). The meaning has remained relatively consistent since medieval times, describing a characteristic type of movement.
This archaic Scottish and Northern English word survives in the phrase 'loup the dyke,' and it's the same root as 'gallop'—both describe animals' bounding movements. Horse trainers still use this vocabulary in specialized contexts, keeping an 800-year-old word alive!
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