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sword dance

American

noun

any of various dances, usually performed by men, in which swords are ceremonially flourished or are laid on the ground and danced around.

sword dance British

noun

a dance in which the performers dance nimbly over swords on the ground or brandish them in the air

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

sword dancer noun
sword dancing noun

Etymology

Origin of sword dance

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Lamb forces himself to come slouching through, whether in a verbal sword dance with Scott Thomas’ Taverner or with a more physical display of spycraft, it isn’t just surprising, it’s inspirational.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2024

The visit concluded with Mr. Trump and other senior officials joining King Salman and the rest of his Saudi hosts in a traditional sword dance.

From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2022

After al-Muslim returned, Kuwaitis celebrated with tea and a ceremonial sword dance.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2021

Still, the U.S.-Saudi relationship is not going to be what it was, and not only because it’s harder to picture Biden doing a sword dance in Riyadh.

From Slate • Nov. 29, 2020

And the hundred began an Afridi sword dance, than which there is nothing wilder in all the world.

From King of the Khyber Rifles by Mundy, Talbot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023