Country-dance — Chambers's Encyclopaedia

Country-dance (Fr. contre-danse, of which the English term is a corruption), a dance in which as many couples can take part as there is space to accommodate them; the gentlemen being ranged at the commencement on one side, and the ladies on the other. The dancers are constantly changing places, leading one another back and forward, up and down, parting and uniting again. 'Sir Roger de Coverley' is the best known example. See DANCING.