‖ terra a terra Obs.
Also 7 terra terra, (territerr).
[It. terra terra level with the ground, influenced by corresp. F. terre à terre, Sp. tierra á tierra: see also terre-à-terre.]
1. An artificial gait formerly taught to horses, resembling a low curvet.
| [1611 Cotgr., Manege de terre à terre, a manage more low, and more quicke then the ordinarie gallop, or curuet.] 1614 Markham Cheap Husb. (1623) 29 In this practise you teach him [the horse] perfectly three lessons together, that is the turne Terra Terra, the Incavalare, and the Chambetta. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1886) 74 The most useful aer, as the Frenchmen term it, is territerr. 1730 Bailey (folio), Terra a terra..is a Series of low Leaps made by the Horse forward, bearing Sideways, and working upon two Treads. |
2. = terre-à-terre.
| 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Terra a terra..applied by the French to dancers, who cut no capers, nor scarce quit the ground. And hence it is also figuratively applied to authors, whose style and diction is low and creeping. |