polonaise

[ pol-uh-neyz, poh-luh- ]

/ ˌpɒl əˈneɪz, ˌpoʊ lə- /

noun

a slow dance of Polish origin, in triple meter, consisting chiefly of a march or promenade in couples.

a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, such a dance.

Also pol·o·nese

[pol-uh-neez, -nees, poh-luh-] /ˌpɒl əˈniz, -ˈnis, ˌpoʊ lə-/. a coatlike outer dress, combining bodice and cutaway overskirt, worn in the late 18th century over a separate skirt.

Words nearby polonaise

polo coat, polo pony, polo shirt, polo, marco, polokwane, polonaise, polonium, polonius, polonize, polonnaruwa, polony

Origin of polonaise

1765–75; < French, feminine of polonais Polish, equivalent to Polon- (< Medieval Latin Polonia Poland) + -ais -ese

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for polonaise

There is also a healthy vigour, which, for instance, in the A major Polonaise assumes a brilliantly-heroic form.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks
The Polonaise ended the ball, and my mother sent us all off to sleep.
Continental Monthly, Vol. 4, No 3, September 1863|Various
After their Majesties have made the circle of the diplomatic corps, the Polonaise, which always opens a Court ball, commences.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 93, July, 1865|Various
More of the Chopinesque than in the Polonaise may be discovered in the Introduction, which was less of a piece d'occasion.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks

I remind you once more of the Polonaise; please send it by return.
Frederic Chopin, v. 1 (of 2)|Moritz Karasowski

British Dictionary definitions for polonaise

polonaise

/ (ˌpɒləˈneɪz) /

noun

a ceremonial marchlike dance in three-four time from Poland

a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

a woman's costume with a tight bodice and an overskirt drawn back to show a decorative underskirt

Word Origin for polonaise

C18: from French danse polonaise Polish dance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012