cancan
can·can [ ˈkan-ˌkan]
[ˈkan-ˌkan]
: a woman's dance of French origin characterized by high kicking usually while holding up the front of a full ruffled skirt
Recent Examples on the Web
//With dizzying dances — encompassing music hall, ballet, hip-hop and, of course, the cancan — by Otto Pichler, the show is frantic and fabulous, a brilliant curatorial move on Mr. Hinterhäuser’s part.
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Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Nearly 100, the Salzburg Festival Doesn’t Wait to Celebrate," 16 Aug. 2019
//Standard period fare like the cancan (bien sûr) and La Danse Apache is reinterpreted with electric wit.
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Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ Offers a Party, and a Playlist, for the Ages," 25 July 2019
//Some mantises evolved to look like showy blossoms, a cancan of deadly come-ons.
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Natalie Angier, New York Times, "Birds Beware: The Praying Mantis Wants Your Brain," 22 Sep. 2017
//Friday night at 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Live entertainment at four stages ranges from Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans to Milwaukee area singer-songwriters Claire Kelly and Ryan McIntyre.
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Sarah Hauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Free Bastille Days festival gives Milwaukee a lively French accent," 12 July 2017
First Known Use of cancan
1842, in the meaning defined above
History and Etymology for cancan
Dictionary Entries near cancan