allemande left

noun

Move in which two facing dancers take left hands or forearms, turn halfway around to the left, let go, and step forward.

OriginFrench allemande →
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Meanings

nounallemande left (plural allemande lefts)

plural allemande lefts

  1. square dancingMove in which two facing dancers take left hands or forearms, turn halfway around to the left, let go, and step forward.

Origin

  1. Frenchallemande“German”
  2. Englishallemande left

From French allemande (“German”) + left. Contrary to some folk etymologies, this term does not come from the phrase a la main (“by the hand”).

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

allemande left. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allemande%20left

MLA

“allemande left.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allemande%20left. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “allemande left,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allemande%20left.

Source: allemande left on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.