Quadrille

Word of the Day for Tuesday 31^st December 2013

Quadrille \kwo-DRIL, kwuh-, kuh-\, noun:

1. a square dance for four couples, consisting of five parts or movements, each complete in itself.
2. the music for such a dance.

…I found that every one of the other couples had retired, and that we four were left to dance the quadrille by ourselves!
-- William Makepeace Thackeray, The Fitz-Boodle Papers, 1842

"What a delightful quadrille we are having!" she said enthusiastically as she passed him. "Delightful!" he acquiesced, with a sudden leap at his heart, and forthwith he resolved to engage her for the next dance as soon as ever he should be at liberty.
-- Ross Neil, The Heir Expectant, 1870

Quadrille entered English in the 1700’s from the Latin quadra meaning "square."

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com