jennet

• genet, ginnet, gennet, jinnet

From French genet, from French genest (“small Spanish horse”), from Old Spanish ginete (“small fast horse”, also “light horseman”) (Spanish jinete), from Andalusian Arabic زَنَاتِي‎ (zanáti), the Zenati or Zenata Berbers, known as excellent horse breeders. Doublet of Zenati.

jennet (plural jennets)

1. A female ass or donkey; a jenny.
2. A small Spanish horse.
   • 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 230:

     Richmondʼs black jennet [...] is a gleaming and well-muscled creature of Spanish breed.

• act the jennet

• “jennet”, in Collins English Dictionary.