gavotte

noun

ga·​votte gə-ˈvät 

1

: a dance of French peasant origin marked by the raising rather than sliding of the feet

2

: a tune for the gavotte in moderately quick ⁴/₄ time

gavotte intransitive verb

Examples of gavotte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tempting, for sure, but this is also supposed to be a truthful gavotte to the grave. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026

For her film War and Peace, the actress had to leave gavotte—which is a French folk dance. — Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026

One mobile, a cluster of white leaf shapes strung along long horizontal arcs, has the aloof grace of an albino peacock, turning with a gavotte rhythm. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

Thus enfranchised, Hackman took on Richard Harris’ elegant killer English Bob with gusto, mixing in a bravura oratorical gavotte with ample kicks to the ribs, and summoning the Best Supporting Actor trophy. — Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025

With all that happened, we're supposed to dance a merry gavotte because some diggers found a proto-clucker with a duck caboose? — Star Tribune, 24 Dec. 2020

Listen out for the slow middle movement without a continuo, solemn and still, set against a charming gavotte to wrap up. — E.c., The Economist, 21 May 2020

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Old Occitan gavato, from gavot Alpine dweller

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gavotte

• clavate
• cravat
• davit

Kids Definition

gavotte

noun

ga·​votte gə-ˈvät 

: a French peasant dance in moderately quick 4/4 time

gavotte verb