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quadrille1 definition

qua·drille (kwə dril′, kwä-)

noun

  1. a square dance of French origin, consisting of several figures, performed by four couples
  2. music for this dance

Etymology: Fr, orig., one of four groups of horsemen participating in certain exercises < Sp cuadrilla, dim. < cuadro, four-sided battle square < L quadra, a square: see quadric

quadrille2 definition

qua·drille (kwə dril′, kwä-)

noun

a card game, popular in the 18th cent., played by four persons

Etymology: Fr, altered by assoc. with quadrille < Sp cuartillo, dim. < cuarto, fourth < L quartus: see quart

quadrille3 definition

qua·drille (kwə dril′, kwä-)

adjective

marked with intersecting lines to form squares or rectangles
also quadrilled qua·drilled′ (-drild′)

Etymology: Fr quadrillé < quadrille, a square < Sp cuadrillo, a small square: see quadrille

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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