Forms: balette, -et, -at, 7–9 ballette, 8– ballet. [a. F. ballet, dim. of bal dance: see BALL sb.2 In 17th c. the forms were confused with those of BALLAD.]
1. A theatrical representation, consisting of dancing and pantomime, originally employed to illustrate dramatically the costumes and manners of other nations, but now for the most part regarded as an artistic exhibition of skill in dancing.
1667. Dryden, Ess. Dram. Poesie, Wks. 1725, I. 54. Not a Balette or Masque, but a play.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, II. i. (1684), 19. [The Russian] Balladins … are Now practising a famous Ballat, which will Be suddenly danc’d at the Bear-Garden.
1773. Gentl. Mag., XLIII. 479. One of the ballets of the opera at Palermo, is a representation of Vauxhall Gardens.
a. 1845. Hood, Vauxhall, vii. Time’s ripe for the Ballet, Like bees they all rally.
1865. Law Times Rep., 371. A ballet of action has a plot, a ballet of divertissement has none.
† 2. gen. A dance. Obs.
1782. S. Rogers, Ital. Song, 14. The ballet danced in twilight glade.
1829. Scott, Demonol., i. 20. The daily persecution of this domestic ballet.
3. attrib., as ballet-dancer, -girl, -music; ballet-master, -mistress, one who arranges and directs the dancing of the ballet.
1836. Q. Rev., No. 111. 87. Daughter of a worn-out ballet-dancer.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, liii. (1853), 443. Your mother, the ballet girl.
1835. Penny Cycl., III. 331/2. A composer of good ballet-music is carefully attentive to locality and to nationality.
1823. Byron, Juan, XIV. xxxviii. Danced … Not like a ballet-master in the van Of his drill’d nymphs.
1871. Echo, 4 Nov. Ballet-mistress at the Grand Opera.
