Pirouette
/ˌpɪr.uˈet/noun
A rapid turn on one foot, especially in ballet or dance.
Did you know?The word entered English through French ballet vocabulary, while its deeper origin remains uncertain; historical sources connect it with the image of a spinning top.
Etymological Timeline
Late Medieval Period
Old French/Occitan
pirouet / piroueta
“A spinning top or small turning object; the exact origin is uncertain.”
16th–17th Century
French
pirouette
“A turn or whirling movement, developing from the image of spinning.”
17th Century
French
pirouette
“A dance turn, especially a rapid rotation on one foot.”
18th Century
English
pirouette
“A ballet turn adopted into English alongside French dance terminology.”
Modern English
English
pirouette
“A controlled turn on one foot, or figuratively, a sudden change of position or opinion.”