A dance with four couples and 10 or 12 figures (parts). Precurser to the quadrille. Imported from France — had complicated steps that the regular English country dances did not.

“Oh, Mummy, do I really need to learn the cotillion? It is so much more complicated than the other dances.”
“Of course you do! Do you expect to stand against the wall when the other debutantes are meeting prospective beau? The cotillion allows you to meet and dance with more than one gentleman. It is a veritable buffet of suitors.”
“But what if I make a mistake?”
“You won’t make a mistake. When we are through you will have danced this so many times you will see it in your dreams.”

Merriam-Webster

Etymology: French cotillon, literally, petticoat, from Old French, from cote coat
A ballroom dance for couples that resembles the quadrille : an elaborate dance with frequent changing of partners carried out under the leadership of one couple at formal balls

Wikipedia

The Cotillion was a popular 18th and 19th century dance in the French Courts that preceded the Quadrille style of dancing.
A cotillion or debutante ball is a formal presentation of young ladies, debutantes, to polite society.

The web host server was Wilma-ed yesterday. Hope any of you affected by the storm are safe and dry. Now that the storms are going Greek, it is a possibility we might get Beta-ed too. I imagine programmers everywhere would get a charge out of that.

A four couple dance composed of five parts.

“Save your first dance for Lord Rakespur.”
“But the first dance is always a quadrille.”
“Well, you can’t waltz with the man. A quadrille is racy enough. And long besides.”
“But what if Lord Rakespur tries anything…racy?”
“In front of the other three couples you will be dancing the quadrille with? I think not. And if he is willing to risk a rakish move, perhaps he’d be willing to dance down the aisle as well. The perfect plan.”

Merriam-Webster

A square dance for four couples made up of five or six figures chiefly in 6/8 and 2/4 time; also : music for this dance

Wikipedia

An historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. It is also a style of music.

Anne

Quadrille was also a card game played with four people (partnered) with the 8’s, 9’s and 10’s removed.

Word of the Day will return on Monday morning. Hope you are enjoying your Saturday and that the following describes your day:

More catterrific pics here.