pirouette
UK /ˌpɪ.ɹʊˈɛt/ · US /ˌpɪ.ɹəˈwɛt/ noun, verb
Forms pirouettes pirouetting pirouetted
- noun A whirling or turning on the toes in dancing, primarily in ballet.
- noun The whirling about of a horse.
- noun A wooden mouthpiece assembly or lip rest used in some European double-reed instruments.
- verb (intransitive) To perform a pirouette; to whirl on the toes, like a dancer.
Etymology
Borrowed from French pirouette, see there for more; attested since 1706.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A whirling or turning on the toes in dancing.
- noun The whirling about of a horse.
- verb To perform a pirouette; to whirl, like a dancer.
Etymology [F.; of uncertain origin.]
Etymology [F. pirouetter.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “pirouette”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details