rigadoon

[ rig-uh-doon ]

noun

1. a lively dance, formerly popular, for one couple, characterized by a jumping step and usually in quick duple meter.
2. a piece of music for this dance or in its rhythm.

rigadoon

/ riɡodɔ̃; ˌrɪɡəˈduːn /

noun

1. an old Provençal couple dance, light and graceful, in lively duple time
2. a piece of music for or in the rhythm of this dance

Word History and Origins

Origin of rigadoon¹

1685–95; < French rigaudon, perhaps from name Rigaud

Word History and Origins

Origin of rigadoon¹

C17: from French, allegedly from its inventor Rigaud , a dancing master at Marseille

Example Sentences

The dance itself is nothing; it might as well be called a Rigadoon or a Sailor's Hornpipe, so far as the steps go.

From Project Gutenberg

To build a city he had only to play a rigadoon and a minuet; but the other hero destroyed them by the sound of rams' horns.

From Project Gutenberg

Arm in arm, their sabots clogging, they did a rigadoon down the winding road.

From Project Gutenberg

She would dance you a rigadoon or cut a pigeon's wing for you very respectably.

From Project Gutenberg

And the Doctor looked as if he should like to rigadoon and sashy across as well as the young one he was talkin' about.

From Project Gutenberg