polonaise

[ pol-uh-neyz, poh-luh- ]
/ ˌpɒl əˈneɪz, ˌpoʊ lə- /

noun

a slow dance of Polish origin, in triple meter, consisting chiefly of a march or promenade in couples.
a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, such a dance.
Also pol·o·nese [pol-uh-neez, -nees, poh-luh-] /ˌpɒl əˈniz, -ˈnis, ˌpoʊ lə-/. a coatlike outer dress, combining bodice and cutaway overskirt, worn in the late 18th century over a separate skirt.

Origin of polonaise

1765–75; < French, feminine of polonais Polish, equivalent to Polon- (< Medieval Latin Polonia Poland) + -ais -ese

Example sentences from the Web for polonaise

British Dictionary definitions for polonaise

polonaise
/ (ˌpɒləˈneɪz) /

noun

a ceremonial marchlike dance in three-four time from Poland
a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance
a woman's costume with a tight bodice and an overskirt drawn back to show a decorative underskirt

Word Origin for polonaise

C18: from French danse polonaise Polish dance