/bal'euh ree"neuh/ , n.
1. a principal female dancer in a ballet company. Cf. prima ballerina .
2. any female ballet dancer.
3. a woman's very low-heeled or heelless shoe or slipper, made to resemble a ballet slipper. Cf. ballet slipper .
[ 1785-95; ballerino professional dancer, prob. equiv to baller ( ia ) dance ( ball ( are ) to dance ( 2 ) + -eria -ino -INE 1 ]