cotillion

[ kuh-til-yuhn, koh- ]

noun

1. a formal ball given especially for debutantes.
2. a lively French social dance originating in the 18th century, consisting of a variety of steps and figures and performed by couples.
3. any of various dances resembling the quadrille.
4. music arranged or played for these dances.
5. a formalized dance for a large number of people, in which a head couple leads the other dancers through elaborate and stately figures.

cotillion

/ kəˈtɪljən; kəʊ- /

noun

1. a French formation dance of the 18th century
2. a quadrille
3. a complicated dance with frequent changes of partners
4. a formal ball, esp one at which debutantes are presented

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotillion¹

1760–70; < French cotillon kind of dance, in Old French: petticoat, equivalent to cote coat + -illon diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotillion¹

C18: from French cotillon dance, from Old French: petticoat, from cote coat

Example Sentences

Mitt, dear chap, one is delighted to escort Muffy to the cotillion.

From The Daily Beast

"I feel as if I were a belle at a grand cotillion with all these lovely favors," exclaimed Jessie Lynch.

From Project Gutenberg

An invitation to a private house bears "Dancing" or "Cotillion" in one corner of the card.

From Project Gutenberg

The passengers were men mostly, but enough women went to form three or four cotillion sets.

From Project Gutenberg

His name was much in the papers as "best man" or cotillion leader or host at club dinners.

From Project Gutenberg

From the German cotillion, back to the Virginia reel, is indeed a bound.

From Project Gutenberg