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Glite Dictionary
sword dance

sword dance

1 6.1
A traditional dance where men step over or wave swords during celebrations
  • noun
translation icon : danza de espadas
  • Some young girl cousins in traditional Scottish costume dance the sword dance along to Scotland the Brave.

Examples

  • The highlight of the evening was a vibrant sword dance that captivated everyone in attendance.

  • A group of revelers performing a sword dance—one of the aforementioned pagan rites?—blocked the tavern door.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • A group of men in traditional attire performed a sword dance to celebrate the village's annual festival.

  • During the cultural ceremony, the dancers showcased their skills in a mesmerizing sword dance.

Synonyms

sword dancing
vssword dance
6.9

A dance where people step over and move swords in careful steps

is used mainly in ritual or celebration contexts rather than focusing on agility

How Dangerous

combat
854 3.5
sword dance
1 6.1

Surface Forms

sword dance singular
sword dances plural

Morphology

sword + dance

The meaning is transparently built from the constituents: 'sword' (a bladed weapon) + 'dance' (a choreographed movement), so it denotes a dance that involves swords or sword-like movements. This literal noun–noun composition is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English compounding patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Sword dance The name sword dance comes from old performances where dancers moved around and stepped over real swords, turning fighting moves into a careful dance to show skill and bravery. That's why it means 'a dance that uses swords'.