passepied

[ pahs-pyey ]

noun

, plural passe·pieds [pahs-, pyey, -, pyeyz].

1. a lively dance in triple meter popular in France in the 17th and 18th centuries.
2. a dance form in moderately fast 3/8 or 3/4 meter, occasionally constituting part of the 17th- and 18th-century instrumental suite.

passepied

/ pɑːsˈpjeɪ /

noun

1. a lively minuet of Breton origin, in triple time, popular in the 17th century
2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

Word History and Origins

Origin of passepied¹

1685–95; < French: literally, pass (the) foot, i.e., move it, dance. See pass, -ped

Word History and Origins

Origin of passepied¹

C17: from French: pass the foot

Example Sentences

Passepied (B flat major) "pour Madame Redwen," short and simple, but very neat and graceful, and quite in dance form.

From Project Gutenberg