passant adjectiveEtymology: Middle English passaunt, from Anglo-French
passant, from present participle of passer to pass Date:
15th century
walking with the farther forepaw raised — used of a heraldic animal
passant adj. Heraldry (of an animal) walking and looking to the dexter side, with three paws on the ground and the right forepaw raised. Etymology: ME f. OF, part. of passer PASS(1)
passant
ˈpæsənt adj. Heraldry (of an animal) walking and looking to the
dexter side, with three paws on the ground and the right forepaw raised. [ME
f. OF, part. of passer PASS(1)]
Passant \Pas"sant\, a. [F., p. pr. of passer. See Pass, v. i.]
1. Passing from one to another; in circulation; current.
[Obs.]
Many opinions are passant. --Sir T.
Browne.
2. Curs?ry, careless. [Obs.]
On a passant rewiew of what I wrote to the bishop.
--Sir P. Pett.
3. Surpassing; excelling. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
4. (Her.) Walking; -- said of any animal on an escutcheon,
which is represented as walking with the dexter paw
raised.
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