n.
Stately court dance introduced from southern Europe into England in the 16th century.
The dance, consisting of forward and backward steps to music in duple time, was originally used to open ceremonial balls; later its steps became livelier and it came to be paired with the quick galliard in triple time.
Pavane, "The Dance in the Garden" illumination from the Roman de la rose , ...
Reproduced by permission of the British Library