cavalier seul

noun

ca·​va·​lier seul

kȧvȧlyāsœl

plural cavaliers seuls

: a quadrille figure performed in turn by each man of two opposite couples while the other man and the women face him

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, gentleman alone

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!