ridotto

American  

[ri-dot-oh] / rɪˈdɒt oʊ /

noun

PLURAL

ridottos

1. a public ball or dance with music and often in masquerade, popular in the 18th century.

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ridotto British  

/ rɪˈdɒtəʊ /

noun

1. an entertainment with music and dancing, often in masquerade: popular in 18th-century England

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Etymology

Origin of ridotto

1715–25; < Italian: retreat, resort; redoubt

Example Sentences

In Venice, Casanova frequented the Il Ridotto, or private room, that is now a part of the Hotel Monaco.

From Washington Times

We next hear of him in “lodgings at South Lambeth,” where he rendered some assistance to the then well-known Jonathan Tyers, who opened Vauxhall in 1732 with an entertainment styled a ridotto al fresco.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you know that I am to go into the country, ma'am? and be put to school again, and the blackboard; and lose the Ridotto on the 17th, and the frolic at the King's House Miss Ham had arranged--and all for helping you?

From Project Gutenberg

Ridotto, ri-dot′ō, n. a house of public entertainment: a dancing party.—v.i. to frequent such.

From Project Gutenberg

Keeper enters, and seeing them so idle, threatens to beat 'em—as they take up their Hammers and Beetles, and are going to beat, the Blocks all vanish, and in their stead appear Harlequin, Scaramouch, Pierrot, and Mezetin, each takes out his Lady to dance, and signify they'll go to the Ridotto al Fresco; the Keeper runs away frighted, they all dance off.—Scene changes to the Street.

From Project Gutenberg