Meanings
plural cushion-dances
- alternativeAlternative form of cushion dance.
I, that have ere now deserved a cushion, call for the "Cushion-dance."
1603, Thomas Heywood, A Woman Killed with Kindness3 more examples
At a solemn dancing, first you had the grave measures, then the corantoes and the galliards, and this is kept up with ceremony; at length to French-more, and the cushion-dance, and then all the company dances, lord and groom, lady and kitchen-maid, no distinction.
1689, John Selden, Table TalkMeantime, a cotillon had been called for; then followed a jig, in which Proddy and Mrs. Plumpton distinguished themselves, occasioning immense laughter by their extraordinary and unexpected agility; after that succeeded the fine old dance of "the hay;" andd after a breathing-pause had been allowed, and refreshments handed round, the pretty and animating cushion-dance was performed — the serjeant drumming away all the while with untiring spirit , and Jiggins only stopping now and then to whet his whistle.
1901, William Harrison Ainsworth, The Novels of William Harrison Ainsworth - Volume 5, page 169The old fool showed no hesitancy about thrusting himself into the circle of young dancers, and shunning the table of drinkers; and yet he longed for a drink; but his mouth watered still more for a kiss from the beautiful Magdalene, and this he might so easily have, if it would only occur to her to invite him to the cushion-dance.
2019, Mór Jókai, Peter the Priest
Cite this entry
cushion-dance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cushion-dance
“cushion-dance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cushion-dance. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cushion-dance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cushion-dance.
Source: cushion-dance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.