pas de chat

noun

ˌpä-də-ˈsha

plural pas de chat ˌpä-də-ˈsha

: a ballet leap from one foot to the other in which the feet are drawn up and the knees are bent so that the legs form a diamond

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, cat's step

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pas de chat was in 1914

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pas de chat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pas%20de%20chat. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

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