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.
▪ historical each of four groups of riders taking part in a tournament or carousel, distinguished by a special costume or colours.
▪ a riding display:
a 32-horse quadrille.
– ORIGIN early 17th century (denoting an equestrian display team, one of four groups of riders): French, from Spanish cuadrilla ‘group of (four or more) people’, from cuadra ‘square’, based on Latin quadrum ‘square’, related to quattuor ‘four’. The sense ‘square dance’ dates from the late 18th century.