polonaise

[ pol-uh-neyz, poh-luh- ]

noun

1. a slow dance of Polish origin, in triple meter, consisting chiefly of a march or promenade in couples.
2. a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, such a dance.
3. Also pol·o·nese [] a coatlike outer dress, combining bodice and cutaway overskirt, worn in the late 18th century over a separate skirt.

polonaise

/ ˌpɒləˈneɪz /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of polonaise¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of polonaise¹

C18: from French danse polonaise Polish dance

Example Sentences

He eventually settled in Paris, giving concerts, teaching the piano and composing music, some based on Polish dances like the polonaise and the mazurka.

From Seattle Times

She said there is a huge community, including entire families, that dance the polonaise and pass the tradition on.

From Seattle Times

He exploited time signatures and forms; for “Night Music,” he wrote a waltz, two sarabandes, two mazurkas, a polonaise, an étude and a gigue — nearly an entire score written in permutations of triple time.

From New York Times

The program included technical challenges like the Etudes, musical challenges like Poland’s dances — mazurkas and polonaises — as well as concertos with an orchestra.

From Seattle Times

But his sensitivity to texture and resonance is sure to illuminate the more traditional works on offer here: a prelude, ballade and polonaise by Chopin, Debussy’s “Estampes” suite and Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata.

From New York Times