pas de bourréen.
/ˌpɑː də bᵿˈreɪ/, /ˌpɑː də ˈbʊreɪ/, /ˌpɑː də ˈbʊəreɪ/, /ˌpa də bᵿˈreɪ/, /ˌpa də ˈbʊreɪ/, /ˌpa də ˈbʊəreɪ/, U.S. /ˌpɑ də bʊˈreɪ/ Dance (esp. Ballet).
A sideways step in which one foot crosses behind or in front of the other.In ballet a series of such steps may be performed rapidly, giving the appearance of gliding.
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1786 S. J. Gardiner Definition Minuet-dancing 25 The lady must then make a pá tombéz with her left Foot, and the Gentleman a pá de bouréz with his left Foot.
1830 R. Barton tr. C. Blasis Code of Terpsichore (ed. 2) ii. 102 Afterwards come..the pas de bourrée and the various movements of different kinds of pirouettes.
1914 T. Kinney & M. W. Kinney Dance iv. 90 In this group might appropriately be included pas de bourrée dessus-dessous (i.e., in front and behind).
1957 G. B. L. Wilson Dict. Ballet 206 Pas de bourrée, lit. a bourrée step; a step probably deriving its name from the Bourrée..with which, however, it has now no apparent connexion.
2001 New Yorker 4 June 98/3 Wheeldon's..dancers do bold, modern-looking movements that are nevertheless true to the classical style—glissade, assemblé, pas de bourrée.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1786