gait
UK[ɡeɪt]US[ɡeɪt]
n
A particular way of walking
Etymology
The word 'gait' entered Middle English from the Old Norse 'gata', meaning a path or a way. This Norse term is related to the Old English 'gāt', a goat, hinting at a possible shared Proto-Germanic root related to the idea of a trodden track or a going. The semantic evolution shifted from the concrete 'path' to the abstract 'manner of walking along a path'. By the early 16th century, 'gait' had solidified in English to specifically denote an individual's characteristic style of walking or running.
Analysis
The word 'gait' is a simplex word of Scandinavian origin, borrowed into Middle English. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
He walked with a slow, shuffling gait.
The horse has a smooth, comfortable gait.
An injury can significantly alter a person's natural gait.