strathspey

American  

[strath-spey, strath-spey] / ˌstræθˈspeɪ, ˈstræθˌspeɪ /

noun

1. a slow Scottish dance in quadruple meter.

2. the music for this dance.

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strathspey British  

/ ˌstræθˈspeɪ /

noun

1. a Scottish dance with gliding steps, slower than a reel

2. a piece of music in four-four time composed for this dance

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Etymology

Origin of strathspey

First recorded in 1645–55; after Strath Spey, the valley of the river Spey in Scotland

Example Sentences

"Dinna think bonnie lassie, I'm goin' to leave you," I remember was his best; it is a strathspey tune; I learned it from him.

From From Edinburgh to India & Burmah by Burn Murdoch, W. G. (William Gordon)

Danced a sword-dance, or a strathspey, or some other blamed thing, on the table, and yelled louder than the pipes.

From A Protegee of Jack Hamlin's and Other Stories by Harte, Bret

Peggy and I laughingly approved, telling him that it was high time for him to assert his authority, and he went off in great good humour across the river field, whistling a Highland strathspey.

From Chronicles of Avonlea by Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)

Irish, a pouch, a purse; strath, N., a valley; strathspey, Sc., a dance, named from the valley of the river Spey; tocher, N., a dowry; usquebaugh, Sc.,

From English Dialects From the Eighth Century to the Present Day by Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William)

"I kenna reel, strathspey, nor lilt, but jist that burd alane, daddy."

From Malcolm by MacDonald, George