country-dance
noun
a dance of rural English origin in which the dancers form circles or squares or in which they face each other in two rows.
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country-dance
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country dance
country dancenouna type of folk dance in which couples are arranged in sets and perform a series of movements, esp facing one another in a line
country-dance
American
[kuhn-tree-dans, -dahns]
/ ˈkʌn triˌdæns, -ˌdɑns /
noun
country dance
British
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of country-dance
First recorded in 1570–80
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.
See Examples For:
Courses are as varied as English country-dance, the presidency and genealogy on the computer.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the country, you know, any stranger is company, and we're glad to take up with the butler in a country-dance, and happy if he 'll do us the favour.
From The Beaux-Stratagem by George Farquhar
I should be as scandalised at a bon mot issuing from his oracle-looking mouth, as to see Cato go down a country-dance.
From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by E. V. (Edward Verrall) Lucas
Miss Linton," he exclaimed, seizing her hand fervently—they were seated on a sofa in the back drawing-room, while the others were labouring through a country-dance in the front—"Miss Linton, hear me for a moment.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Vol. 9 by Various
Now, sir, as we have here English, Scotch, and Irish dancers, we can have the English country-dance, the Scotch reel, and the Irish jig.
From Tales and Novels — Volume 08 by Maria Edgeworth
The 16-year-old has enjoyed the country dance style since she was seven, following in the footsteps of her mum, grandmother and great-grandmother.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
In 1953, after completing two years of service, he returned to Memphis and resumed working as a bank clerk while playing fiddle in local country dance bands.
From New York Times ● Dec. 8, 2022
Live music shall fill the cozy Ballard tavern once more when Midnight Suns kick off the bar’s Tuesday country dance night.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 24, 2021
On its website, Borderline is described as “Ventura County’s largest country dance hall and live music venue . . . a haven for country line dancing folks of all ages.”
From Washington Post ● Nov. 8, 2018
At this country dance Johnny for the first time saw Rab move suddenly into action.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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