branle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Historical/Specialist)Historical, Musical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “branle” mean?
A Renaissance or early Baroque dance in duple or triple time, characterized by swaying side-to-side movements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Renaissance or early Baroque dance in duple or triple time, characterized by swaying side-to-side movements; also refers to the music for this dance.
The term can metaphorically describe any swaying or rocking motion, reminiscent of the dance's movement. In historical contexts, it refers to a social dance popular in French and English courts from the 16th to early 18th centuries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally rare in both varieties, confined to specialist historical contexts.
Connotations
Evokes a specific period in European cultural history. No modern slang or colloquial uses.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK contexts related to historical dance societies or early music ensembles.
Grammar
How to Use “branle” in a Sentence
The ensemble [played] a branle.The dancers [performed] a branle.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “branle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The dancers branled across the Great Hall.
American English
- They branled to the sprightly tune.
adjective
British English
- The branle section of the suite was particularly lively.
American English
- She specializes in branle music from the 16th century.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in papers on Renaissance music, dance history, and cultural studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in musical scores, dance notation, and historical performance practice instructions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “branle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “branle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “branle”
- Mispronouncing as 'bramble'.
- Using it to describe any old dance.
- Assuming it is a modern term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but only by historical dance reconstruction groups, early music performers, and in certain traditional folk settings in parts of Europe.
A 'branle simple' has simpler, single steps, while a 'branle double' has more complex, double steps. They often differed in meter and tempo.
Historically, yes, but this usage is now archaic. In modern historical descriptions, it is almost exclusively used as a noun.
No. 'Branle' comes from the French 'branler' (to shake, sway). 'Brawl' has a different Germanic origin.
Branle is usually historical, musical, academic in register.
Branle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɑːnl(ə)/, /brɑ̃l/, and in American English it is pronounced /brænˈleɪ/, /ˈbrɑːnəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in contemporary use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BRANches sway in the wind' like the side-to-side 'BRANLE' of the dance.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDERED SOCIAL INTERACTION IS CHOREOGRAPHED MOVEMENT (the branle represented structured social participation).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical period was the branle most popular?