23 October 2015

cotillion

[kuh-til-yuh n, koh-]

noun

1. a formal ball given especially for debutantes.
2. a lively French social dance originating in the 18th century, consisting of a variety of steps and figures and performed by couples.
3. any of various dances resembling the quadrille.
4. music arranged or played for these dances.
5. a formalized dance for a large number of people, in which a head couple leads the other dancers through elaborate and stately figures.

Origin of cotillion

French

1760-1770; < French cotillon kind of dance, in Old French: petticoat, equivalent to cote coat + -illon diminutive suffix

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for cotillion

Contemporary Examples

Mitt, dear chap, one is delighted to escort Muffy to the cotillion.
Paul Begala: Huntsman Wins South Carolina Debate by Dropping Out
Paul Begala
January 16, 2012

Historical Examples

A toy harness from the cotillion favors jangled on her dress.
The House of Fulfilment
George Madden Martin

I simply said I wanted to be excused from taking her to the cotillion.
Stanford Stories
Charles K. Field

Anagram

ionic toll
licit loon
in cool lit

Today’s quote

I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample under foot.

– Robert Green Ingersoll

On this day

23 October 4004BC – The day the world was created, according to Archbishop James Ussher.

23 October 42BC – death of Brutus, Roman senator. He suicided after his Army was defeated during the Roman civil wars at the Second Battle of Philippi, by Mark Antony and Octavian.

23 October 1959 – birth of ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic, American parody singer-songwriter.

23 October 1998 – Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, establish a ‘Land for Peace’ deal regarding the West Bank, after a marathon 21 hour negotiation.