branle

[ bran-l ]

noun
  1. a lively 16th- and 17th-century round dance originating in France.

  2. the music for this dance.

Origin of branle

1
1575–85; <Middle French, derivative of branler to shake, swing (probably from the phrase branler une danse), Old French bran(s)ler to move (a limb, the head), contraction of brandeler to shake, equivalent to brand(ir) to brandish + -eler suffix of expressive verbs <Vulgar Latin *-illāre

Words Nearby branle

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How to use branle in a sentence

  • The movement towards the dominant note in this branle may be regarded as a latent modulation.

    The Pianoforte Sonata | J.S. Shedlock
  • I always enjoyed seeing her dance the branle de la Torche, or du Flambeau.

  • Francezka walked the minuet with Count Saxe, and afterward danced in a very merry branle.

    Francezka | Molly Elliot Seawell
  • The branle was at once formed, and Francezka, as on the night before, led it with Count Saxe.

    Francezka | Molly Elliot Seawell
  • The baby who has not swung in a branle does not know the quintessence of baby luxury.

    Bayou Folk | Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for branle

branle

/ (ˈbrænəl) /


noun
  1. an old French country dance performed in a linked circle

Origin of branle

1
C17: from Old French branler to shake, variant of brandir to brandish

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