a leap in ballet during which the dancer repeatedly crosses his or her feet or beats them together
Word origin
C18: from French, from earlier entrechase, changed by folk etymology from Italian (capriola) intrecciata, literally: entwined (caper), from intrecciare to interlace, from in-2 + trecciatress
entrechat in American English
(ˌɑntrəˈʃɑ; ˈɑntrəˌʃɑ; French ɑ̃trəˈʃa)
noun
Ballet
a leap straight upward during which the dancer crosses the legs and beats the calves together a number of times
Word origin
Fr earlier entrechasse, altered (as if < entre, between, among + chasser < OFr chacier, chase1) < It (capriola) intrecciata, lit., intertwined (leap) < intrecciare < in-, in + treccia, a plait: see tress