cotillion
[ kuh-til-yuh n, koh- ]
/ kəˈtɪl yən, koʊ- /
noun
a formal ball given especially for debutantes.
a lively French social dance originating in the 18th century, consisting of a variety of steps and figures and performed by couples.
any of various dances resembling the quadrille.
music arranged or played for these dances.
a formalized dance for a large number of people, in which a head couple leads the other dancers through elaborate and stately figures.
Origin of cotillion
1760–70; < French
cotillon kind of dance, in Old French: petticoat, equivalent to
cote
coat +
-illon diminutive suffix
Words nearby cotillion
coth,
cothamore,
cothromboplastin,
cothurnus,
cotidal,
cotillion,
cotillon,
cotinga,
cotman,
cotoneaster,
cotonou
Example sentences from the Web for cotillion
British Dictionary definitions for cotillion
cotillion
cotillon
/ (kəˈtɪljən, kəʊ-) /
noun
a French formation dance of the 18th century
US
a quadrille
US
a complicated dance with frequent changes of partners
US and Canadian
a formal ball, esp one at which debutantes are presented
Word Origin for cotillion
C18: from French
cotillon dance, from Old French: petticoat, from
cote
coat