Glissade
/ɡlɪˈsɑːd/noun
A smooth sliding movement, especially in dance, skiing, or climbing.
Did you know?Glissade comes from French glisser, “to slip or slide,” and ultimately from a Germanic root meaning “to glide,” the same ancient family behind words like *glide* and *glisten*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghel-
“To shine, gleam, or be bright”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*glīdaną
“To glide, move smoothly”
Old French
Old French
glissade
“A sliding movement; a slip”
Middle French
French
glisser
“To slip, slide, or skate”
16th Century
English
glissade
“A sliding step or movement, especially in dance”
Modern English
English
glissade
“A smooth sliding movement, especially in dance, skiing, or climbing”