English▸ noun a square dance performed typically by four couples and containing five figures, each of which is a complete dance in itself.
▪ a piece of music for a quadrille dance.
▪ historical each of four groups of riders taking part in a tournament or carousel, distinguished by a special costume or colors.
▪ a riding display:
a 32-horse quadrille.
– ORIGIN mid 18th century : from French from Spanish cuadrilla or Italian quadriglia ‘troop, company’, from cuadra, quadra ‘square’, based on Latin quadrare ‘make square’.