These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quadrille.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The quadrille, named for its four couples that form the sides of a square, seems to have begun as a French country dance. In the 18th century it became fashionable among the French nobility; as performed by elegantly dressed aristocrats, it became slow and formal. It crossed over to England and from there to New England, where it turned back into a dance for the common people. It soon evolved into the American square dance, a lively type of dance that employs a "caller" to make sure everyone remembers the steps.
First Known Use: 1726
in the meaning defined at sense 1
See Words from the same year
: a dance for four couples who each form one side of a square
See words that rhyme with quadrille Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quadrille
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