cotillion
17
9.9
- noun
- /kəˈtɪl.jən/
- The young women were excited to attend their first cotillion and make their debut into society.
- debutante cotillion
- cotillion party
- attend a cotillion
Examples
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Among African American/Black upper-class girls, Jack and Jill chapters and other elite groups host invitation-only debutante cotillions.
Academic text (2014) -
Getting dressed up for a cotillion might sound lovely.
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Is this a cotillion or a charity event?
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This cotillion is a huge event.
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So do you have someone to take you to this cotillion?
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What cotillion are you going to, hon?
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But my cotillion's next Saturday.
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This week, I am honored to be one of the hostesses for the Cotillion Ball.
Blog text (13) -
We had been to enough cotillions to be bored of the rituals.
Fiction book (1996) -
At the annual charity cotillion, elegant gowns and formal attire filled the ballroom with glittering beauty.
Synonyms
220
2.6
A large formal dance where people wear elegant clothes
152
3.3
A formal party after a ceremony to welcome guests
66
4.2
A formal social event such as a party or ceremony
4
2.8
An event where people meet to celebrate or spend time together
1
3.8
A formal party or ceremony where many people meet
1
6.0
A fancy formal party with entertainment to celebrate or raise money
1
6.2
A formal party where a young woman is introduced to society
How Formal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Cotillion comes from the French cotillon, which meant 'petticoat' or 'small skirt'. Because the lively dance made the skirts move a lot in 18th-century France, the word came to mean the formal event where young women are introduced, so today a cotillion is a formal ball.