quadrille1
/kwɒˈdrɪl
/noun
1A square dance performed typically by four couples and containing five figures, each of which is a complete dance in itself.Working with the steps of formal quadrilles and folk dances, St Lucians developed different kinds of dances....
- The traditional folk dance, the quadrille, dates back to eighteenth century European settlers.
- Dickens, we are told, happily danced a half dozen quadrilles and thanked his hosts for their ‘affectionate’ greeting.
1.1A piece of music for a quadrille.The earliest music of European origin included quadrilles played by regimental bands in the penal settlements....
- One could find parts of a symphony and an overture of German or Austrian origin along with Italian opera selections, quadrilles, and virtuoso items.
- He only grinned and led me back onto the dance floor as quadrille began.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from French from Spanish cuadrilla or Italian quadriglia 'troop, company', from cuadra, quadra 'square', based on Latin quadrare 'make square'.
Rhymes
quadrille2
/kwɒˈdrɪl/noun [mass noun]
A trick-taking card game for four players using a pack of forty cards (i.e. one lacking eights, nines, and tens), fashionable in the 18th century.
Origin
Early 18th century: from French, perhaps from Spanish cuartillo (from cuarto 'fourth'). The change in the first syllable was due to association with quadrille1.
quadrille3
/kwɒˈdrɪl/noun [mass noun]
A ruled grid of small squares, especially on paper: [as modifier]: 50 unheaded grey quadrille leaves
Origin
Late 19th century: from French quadrillé, from quadrille 'small square', from Spanish cuadrillo 'small block'.
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