▪ I.ambling,vbl.n.|ˈæmblɪŋ|[f.amble v. + -ing1.]1.Of a horse: Motion in an amble.1580BaretAlv. A 344The pleasant pase or ambling of a horse, Glomeratio.
1646Sir T. BrownePseud.Ep.iv. vi. 193They move per latera, that is two legs of one side together, which is Tollutation or ambling.
1725BradleyFam.Dict.s.v.Horse,Ambling; which is chosen for Ease, Great Men's Seats, or long Travel, is a Motion contrary to Trotting.
1847YouattHorse ii. 19As for trotting, cantering, or ambling, it would be an unpardonable fault were he ever to be guilty of it.
2.Of persons: Dancing or walking in an amble; tripping, gliding, walking affectedly.1592Shakes.Rom.& Jul. i. iv. 11,I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy, I will beare the light.
1748RichardsonClarissa (1811) I. x. 65What..your uncle Antony means by his frequent amblings hither.
1810CrabbeBorough xix. 35Their wanton ambling and their watchful wiles.
1828ScottF.M. Perth xii,For all thy mincing and ambling.
3.attrib.(formally identical w. amblingppl.a.)a1450Knt. G. de la Tour (1868) 9Sette a colte in aumblyng ringes, he wille use it whiles thei aren on.
1580TusserHusb.xcv. ii,Least homelie breaker mar fine ambling ball.
a1635CorbettPoems (1807) 19A wondrous witty ambling pace.
1842TennysonLady of Shalott ii. 20An abbot on an ambling pad.
a1845HoodPaul Pry vi,Thy pace, it is an ambling trot.
▪ II.ambling,ppl.a.|ˈæmblɪŋ|Also 4 -ende, 6 north.-and.[f.amble v. + -ing2.]1.Of a horse: Moving in an amble.1393GowerConf.II 45On faire amblende hors they set.
c1430Syr Gener. 4031Thei set him on an ambling palfray.
1535LyndesaySat 3363,I let ȝow wit, I am na fuill..I ride vpon ane amland Muill.
1550J. CokeDebate (1877) 118Ambelynge hackeneys, and hobbes plentie.
1598Shakes.Merry W. ii. ii. 320,I will rather trust..a Theefe to walke my ambling gelding then my wife with her selfe.
1751ChambersCycl.s.v.,The ambling horse changes sides at each remove.
1822W. IrvingBraceb. Hall xvi. 133She rode her sleek ambling pony.
1836Hor. SmithTin Trump. I. 28To those elderly gentlemen..an ambling nag has always been an equestrian beatitude.
2.Hence, Moving with the gait or pace of an ambling horse, whether with regard to alternacy, smoothness, or affectation.1612DraytonPoly-olb. xiv. 228The ambling Streame.
1704RoweUlysses i. i. 308Easie ambling Speeches.
1850Blackieæschylus I.Pref.14Our own Anapæstic verse..has..a light, ambling, unsteady air about it.
†3.Walking. Obs.1600FairfaxTasso iv. xxvii. 60Of their night ambling dame, the Syrians prated.
