rigadoon

noun

rig·​a·​doon ˌri-gə-ˈdün How to pronounce rigadoon (audio)
variants or rigaudon
: a lively dance of the 17th and 18th centuries
also : the music for a rigadoon

Word History

Etymology

French rigaudon

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rigadoon was in 1691

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Cite this Entry

“Rigadoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigadoon. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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