pavane

[ puh-vahn, -van; French pa-van ]

/ pəˈvɑn, -ˈvæn; French paˈvan /

a stately dance dating from the 16th century.

the music for this dance.

Also pav·an

[pav-uh n, puh-vahn, -van] /ˈpæv ən, pəˈvɑn, -ˈvæn/, pavin.

Origin of pavane

1525–35; < Middle French < Italian pavana, contraction of padovana (feminine) of Padua (Italian Padova)

After the Pavane came the Courante, a court dance performed on tiptoe with slightly jumping steps and many bows and curtseys.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 |Various
Will you honour us by stepping the pavane with us, Marquise?

Petticoat Rule |Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
Very fine was the bow he made as he said: 'Mademoiselle, may I entreat the honour of your hand for the pavane?

A German Pompadour |Marie Hay
"They are going to dance the pavane almost at once," she murmured.

The Law Inevitable |Louis Couperus

I have often seen them dancing the Pavane d'Espagne, which must be performed with the utmost majesty and grace.

Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol 6 |Various

pavane

/ (pəˈvɑːn, -ˈvæn, ˈpævən) /

a slow and stately dance of the 16th and 17th centuries

a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, usually characterized by a slow stately triple time

C16 pavan, via French from Spanish pavana, from Old Italian padovana Paduan (dance), from Padova Padua