quadrille

Everyday

1. An old dance for four couples standing in a square, done in several parts, popular in the 1800s. tree →
2. The music for this dance. tree →
3. (cards, old) A card game for four players. tree →

In the lessons

Quadrilles were danced at balls in Victorian times, like a square dance. In Alice in Wonderland, the Mock Turtle and the Gryphon dance the Lobster Quadrille for Alice, with the song «Will you walk a little faster? said a whiting to a snail». The name comes from Latin and French words for four (like quadrilateral).

Examples

• The Mock Turtle and the Gryphon danced the Lobster Quadrille. tree →
• At the ball, four couples stood in a square for the quadrille. tree →
• «Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?» tree →
• In a quadrille, each couple takes turns to move. tree →
• The band played a lively quadrille. tree →
• Lobsters are thrown out to sea in the middle of the Lobster Quadrille. tree →

Note

Sounds like «kwa-DRILL». «Quad-» means four: quadrilateral, quad bike, quadruple. Old-fashioned word.