contredanse

Flocks of old gulls, enormous as hens, fluttered with evolutions like a contredanse upon its glossy surface.

The contredanse represented was originally the old country dance exported to France and returned with certain arrangements added.

"Amidst more youthful engagements, don't forget you are engaged to me for a contredanse," she said.

Contredanse is the French original, and means that the parties stand opposite to each other.

The French contredanse was borrowed from the English country-dance.