1
: a four-handed variant of ombre popular especially in the 18th century
2
: a square dance for four couples made up of five or six figures chiefly in ⁶/₈ and ²/₄ time
also
: music for this dance
: marked with squares or rectangles
Did you know?
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.
Cite this Entry
“Quadrille.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrille. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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