gambol

Picture lambs in a spring meadow, jumping and running around for fun. That is what this word describes. It means to move in a lively, playful way, often by skipping, leaping, or bounding. It is used most often for young animals, but people can do it too, especially children at play.

You are more likely to see this word in stories, poems, or nature writing than in everyday talk. It has a cheerful, light feeling. If you imagine a puppy bouncing across a yard or children racing across a field with happy energy, you have the right idea.

To gambol means to move about in a playful, lively way by leaping, skipping, or bounding with carefree energy. It is more than just running; it suggests movement that is full of joy and fun. The word is especially common for young animals such as lambs, calves, or foals moving about with sudden, happy energy.

While it is most often used for animals, it can also describe people, especially children. In that case, it usually has a poetic, old-fashioned, or storybook feel. You might read about children gamboling in a park or figures gamboling through a forest. The word brings to mind freedom, delight, and movement done for no reason except pure enjoyment.

The word comes through Old French from forms linked to jumping or kicking, which fits its sense very well. It has long been used in literary English to paint a bright picture of active, happy motion.

You will not hear it much in casual modern speech. It is more likely to appear in literature, nature writing, or playful description, where the writer wants a vivid image of carefree motion. When you see a creature leaping about just because it feels good to move, this word fits that scene well.