Etymology: < classical Latin pyrrhichius metrical foot consisting of two short syllables < Hellenistic Greek πυρρίχιος , use as noun (short for ποὺς πυρρίχιος pyrrhic foot) of masculine of πυρρίχιος of or relating to the pyrrhic dance < ancient Greek πυρρίχη pyrrhic n.¹ + -ιος , suffix forming adjectives. Compare French pyrrhicque , noun (c1600). Compare earlier pyrrhichius n.

Etymology: As adjective < post-classical Latin pyrrhichus of or relating to the pyrrhic dance (5th cent.) < classical Latin pyrrhicha (see below). As noun < classical Latin pyrrhicha kind of war dance < ancient Greek πυρρίχη , use as noun (short for πυρρίχη ὄρχησις pyrrhic dance) of feminine of πυρρίχος reddish < πυρρός reddish (see pyrrhous adj.) + -ίχος, expressive suffix. Compare Middle French perrique, pirriche (1380; French pyrrique).Ancient Greek πυρρίχη is said by some ancient Greek authors to have been so named from a certain Πύρριχος , the inventor of the dance; it is also sometimes attributed (originally by Pliny) to an unspecified person named Pyrrhus . In form pyrricha reflecting the classical Latin noun; in form pyrrichia perhaps influenced by pyrrichius pyrrhic n.²

Etymology: < ancient Greek Πυρρικός of or relating to Pyrrhus < Πύρρος (classical Latin Pyrrhus ), the name of a king of Epirus who made war on Rome 280–274 b.c. + -ικός -ic suffix.