ballet de cour

noun

-də-ˈku̇r 

plural ballets de cour

ba-ˈlā(z)-də-ˈku̇r,

ˈba-ˌlā(z)-

: a type of ballet performed as part of a celebration for the French royal court in the 16th and 17th centuries

By the middle of the sixteenth century Italian dancing masters were working in France, attracted in part by the presence of Catherine de' Medici as Queen of France, and it is at this time we note the emergence of the ballet de cour.

—Mary Clarke & Clement Crisp, The Ballet Goer's Guide, 1981

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "court ballet"

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!