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ˈmorris-dance
Forms: see morris n.1
[f. morris n.1 (or morys Moorish a.2) + dance n.
Cf. Flemish mooriske dans (perh. the immediate source), Du. Moorsche dans, early mod.G. moriskentanz, F. danse moresque.]
A grotesque dance performed by persons in fancy costume, usually representing characters from the Robin Hood legend, esp. Maid Marian and Friar Tuck. Hence, any mumming performance of which fantastic dancing is an important feature. Also, a representation of the dance.
1458Will of Wetenhale (Somerset Ho.), Ciphos argenti sculpt. cum moreys daunce. 1494in Excerpta Hist. (1831) 95 For playing of the Mourice dance. 1510Will of Jackson (Somerset Ho.), My cuppe wt the morres daunce. 1532Lett. & Pap. Hen. VIII, V. 739 A gold salt, called the Moresdaunce, with 5 Moresdauncers and a tabrett. 1552Latimer Serm. (1562) 148 Such felowes are more meete to daunce the morrice daunce, then to bee admitted to preache. 1633Ford Love's Sacrif. i. ii, Thou wouldst sweare A Morris-dance were but a Tragedy Compar'd to that. 1708J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. i. v. (1743) 35 In the reign of King James the First, 8 old men danced a morice-dance..whose ages put together made 800 years. 1801Strutt Sports & Past. iii. v. 201, I make no doubt the morris-dance..originated from the fool's dance.
b. transf. and fig.
1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ ii. iv. §17 The Dithyrambus was..a kind of extatick Morice-dance. a1639Wotton Parallel Essex & Buckhm. (1641) 11 Whilest the Queene stood in some doubt of a Spanish Invasion (though it proved but a Morrice dance upon our Waves). 1781Cowper Table-T. 519, I judged a man of sense could scarce do worse Than caper in the morris-dance of verse.
Hence ˈmorris-dancer, (a) one who takes part in a morris-dance. † (b) pl. The aurora borealis. ˈmorris-dancing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1507in Jupp Acc. Carpenters' Comp. (1887) 200 Itm payd to y⊇ morys daunsers viijd. 1532[see morris dance]. 1612Rowlands Knave of Hearts B 1 b, My Sleeues are like some Morris-dancing fellow. 1612Peacham Gentl. Exerc. i. xii. 45 Those peeces that shewed..a countrey village, faire or market,..Morrice dancing, peasants together by the eares, and the like. 1621B. Jonson Gypsies Met. (1640) 65 They should be Morris-dancers by their gingle. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 224 A Morrice-dancer drest with Bells. 1755tr. Pontoppidan's Nat. Hist. Norway i. 4 note, In England..the north light..is..called Morrice-dancers, Merry dancers, and streamers. 1825Scott Talism. xx, How wouldst like such beverage thyself after such a morrice dancing? 1856Vaughan Mystics (1860) I. 248 All the year is May for the morris-dancers. |