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sword dancing

sword dancing

6.9
A dance where people step over and move swords in careful steps
  • noun
translation icon : danza de espadas
  • The village festival featured a group of men performing sword dancing in colorful costumes.

Examples

  • The art of sword dancing requires great skill, agility, and precise choreography.

  • Many cultures have their own styles of sword dancing.

  • In Scotland, sword dancing is an important part of local heritage and traditional celebrations.

  • The sword dancing at the festival was breathtaking.

  • In Scotland, sword dancing is an important part of local heritage and traditional celebrations.

  • The village festival featured a group of men performing sword dancing in colorful costumes.

  • The art of sword dancing requires great skill, agility, and precise choreography.

Synonyms

sword dance
vssword dancing
1 6.1

A traditional dance where men step over or wave swords during celebrations

focuses on agile stepping or brandishing of blades rather than ceremony

How Dangerous

combat
854 3.5
sword dancing
6.9

Surface Forms

sword dancing singular

Morphology

sword + dance

The meaning 'a traditional dance involving swords' is directly and compositionally derived from 'sword' (a blade weapon) + 'dance' (rhythmic movement), so the overall sense is transparent. This compound follows normal English noun-plus-noun formation and similar expressions exist across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Sword dancing may come from old village or battlefield celebrations where fighters would show their skill by dancing around or stepping over a real sword. Imagine people moving carefully to show 'bravery' and 'skill' — that's why the phrase now means a traditional dance that uses swords.