- quadrille (n.) - 1773, "lively square dance for four couples,"
from French quadrille (17c.), originally one of four groups of
horsemen in a tournament (a sense attested in English from
1738), from Spanish cuadrilla, diminutive of cuadro "four-sided
battle square," from Latin quadrum "a square," related to
quattuor "four" (see four). The craze for the dance hit England
in 1816, and it underwent a vigorous revival late 19c. among the
middle classes. Earlier the name of a popular card game for four
hands, and in this sense from French quadrille (1725), from
Spanish cuartillo, from cuarto "fourth," from Latin quartus. OED
notes it as fashionable from 1726 ("and was in turn superseded
by whist"), the year of Swift's (or Congreve's) satirical ballad
on the craze: The commoner, and knight, the peer, Men of all
ranks and fame, Leave to their wives the only care, To propagate
their name; And well that duty they fulfil When the good
husband's at Quadrille &c.