cotilion
9.9
A lively social dance with set steps for couples at formal parties
- noun
- /kəˈtɪljən/
- Archaic
:
cotillón
- The guests formed sets and danced a cotilion late into the night.
Examples
-
Learning the steps of the cotilion was considered essential for young ladies in society.
-
At the historical ball, everyone wore period dress and participated in a cotilion.
-
They danced the cotilion gracefully.
-
The cotilion was the highlight of the ball.
-
At the historical ball, everyone wore period dress and participated in a cotilion.
-
The guests formed sets and danced a cotilion late into the night.
-
Learning the steps of the cotilion was considered essential for young ladies in society.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A lively formal group dance often done at balls
is a lively dance done mainly by couples with patterned steps
How Lively
Surface Forms
Etymology
Cotilion comes from the French cotillon, which meant 'petticoat'. Because dancers often showed their skirts and petticoats during the lively steps, the name came to mean the lively social dance we know today.