entrechat

[ French ahn-truh-sha ]

noun,plural en·tre·chats [French ahn-truh-sha]. /French ɑ̃ trəˈʃa/. Ballet.
  1. a jump in which the dancer crosses the feet a number of times while in the air.

Origin of entrechat

1
1765–75; <French, alteration of Italian (capriola) intrecciata intwined (caper), equivalent to in-in-2 + trecci-tress + -ata-ate1

Words Nearby entrechat

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British Dictionary definitions for entrechat

entrechat

/ (French ɑ̃trəʃa) /


noun
  1. a leap in ballet during which the dancer repeatedly crosses his feet or beats them together

Origin of entrechat

1
C18: from French, from earlier entrechase, changed by folk etymology from Italian (capriola) intrecciata, literally: entwined (caper), from intrecciare to interlace, from in- ² + treccia tress

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