Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To walk or proceed, especially in an easy or casual manner.
  • intransitive verb To strut or flounce in a showy manner.
  • intransitive verb To perform the chassé in dancing.
  • intransitive verb To move in a sideways manner.
  • noun A chassé.
  • noun An excursion; an outing.
  • noun A figure in square dancing in which partners circle each other by taking sideways steps.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A chassé.
  • noun A sequence of sideways steps in a circle in square dancing.
  • verb intransitive To walk casually or showily; to strut, swagger or flounce.
  • verb intransitive To chassé when dancing.
  • verb intransitive To move sideways.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (ballet) quick gliding steps with one foot always leading
  • verb to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
  • verb perform a chasse step, in ballet
  • verb move sideways
  • noun a square dance figure; partners circle each other taking sideways steps
  • noun a journey taken for pleasure

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of chassé.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

French chasser, chase, from Latin verb captare, from perfect passive participle captus, from verb capere, take.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word sashay.

Examples

  • After the "sashay" -- the noblest and most dashing bit of gymnastics displayed in the whole quadrille -- he bowed profoundly to his invisible partner and came to a pause, wiping his streaming face.

    Beasley's Christmas Party Booth Tarkington 1907

  • (his style defines the word sashay) and scrutinize his outfits, which on a recent afternoon featured white, low-slung capris, a black purse, eyeliner and diamond-studded jewelry.

    Gay News Blog 2008

  • : Our favorite fierce bitch with 3 names since Elizabeth Cady Stanton was told to "sashay" away?

    Gay Pop Culture, News & Clues Served Fresh Daily | NewNowNext Blog | Logo Online Will Pulos 2010

  • Does he kind of sashay his pointy tale when he walks?

    Latest News 2009

  • Does he kind of sashay his pointy tale when he walks?

    Latest News 2009

  • Does he kind of sashay his pointy tale when he walks?

    columbiatribune.com stories 2009

  • "I've got this," I yell with a little smile, and sashay right into Bob, who has called off his pencil sharpener pursuit to be the first responder to the smoke situation in our kitchen.

    Linda Flanagan: Parent Aptitude Test Linda Flanagan 2012

  • You make it sound easy, sashay into a bank show them a plan and they hand over gobs of money.

    Matthew Yglesias » Fun With Tax Deductions 2010

  • ‪The two companies will likely be among a dozen IPOs that attempt to sashay in front of investors before everyone takes a break during Thanksgiving week in the U.S., which starts Nov. 21.

    Angie's List Schedules IPO Launch for Nov. 17 Lynn Cowan 2011

  • How did eight of my horses just slip out of the fence and sashay off into the wild blue ever-fucking yonder?

    Kings of Colorado David E. Hilton 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • I can't wait to use this word again- it is a rare opportunity to sneak this word in ----!

    June 20, 2009