QUADRILLE  , the name of a

game of cards and of a dance . The game, played by four persons with a pack of forty cards, was a variation of the Spanish game of ombre (q.v.) and superseded it in popularity about 1725, to give way in turn to whist . The dance is of French origin and is usually danced by four couples in square . In the 18th century the contredanse was introduced into the ballet, and groups of four, eight or twelve dancers dressed alike performed different figures; these were first called quadrilles des contredanses, later shortened to quadrilles . The dance became popular outside the ballet, and its figures, five in number, with a finale, bore the names of the different contredanses, Le Pantalon, l'Ele, La Poule, La Trenitz, La Pastostrelle . The dance was introduced into England in 1815 . The word in both its applications comes through Ital. quadriglio or Span. cuadrilla from Lat. quadra, a square, four-sided figure (quattuor, four) .