▪ I. waltz, n.
(wɔːlts, wɔːls)
Also 8 valze, waltze, 9 pl. waltses, 8–9 valtz, walse. See also valse.
[ad. G. walzer, f. walzen to roll, revolve, dance the waltz.]
1. A dance performed to music in triple time by couples who, almost embracing each other, swing round and round in the same direction with smooth and even steps, moving on as they gyrate.
| 1781 Twining in Select. Papers T. Family (1887) 74, I found on inquiry that this was a favourite German dance called a waltz. 1796 Campaigns 1793–4, II. i. 6 All these fair Flammandes gain force, In the Valtz, as they spin in their whirligig course. 1798 Helen M. Williams Tour Switzerland I. 34 The walse, which is now never forgotten at a Paris ball. 1812 Byron (title) The Waltz. 1825 W. Hamilton Hand-bk. Terms Arts etc., Waltz, in Music, the name of a riotous and indecent German dance. 1872 E. Braddon Life in India iv. 145 She will be able to reward the virtuous youth who is fast and smooth in the valtz. 1881 ‘Rita’ My Lady Coquette i, The very memory of those waltzes makes my arms ache. |
| fig. 1802 Coleridge Lett. (1895) 403 The ghosts of his departed guineas dance an ugly waltz round my idea. |
| attrib. 1826 [Sherer] Notes & Refl. Ramble in Germany 37 My steps were arrested..by the sound of soft waltz music. |
2. A piece of music to accompany this dance, in the same time and rhythm.
| 1816 Jane Austen Emma xxvi, Mrs. Weston..was seated, and beginning an irresistible waltz. 1837 Marryat Dog-Fiend ix, The band..played a waltz. |
† 3. A party or soirée for waltzing. Obs.
| 1802 Spirit Publ. Jrnls. VI. 192 If men and women of fashion will come forward, and..give balls, waltses, and suppers. |
4. Something accomplished with ease. slang.
| 1968 Time 5 July 38 Though Dancer eased him up at the end, Nevele Pride won in a waltz. 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard vi. 179 The qualifying examinations conducted through the Civil Service Commission were a waltz. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as waltz king [G. Walzerkönig], an epithet applied to the Viennese composer Johann Strauss (1825–99), famous for his waltzes; waltz-length a., (of a garment) calf-length.
| 1908 Busy Man's Mag. Feb. 51/2 Johann Strauss, ‘the waltz king’. 1938 Oxf. Compan. Mus. 1013/1 It seems as likely that such a waltz as the Blue Danube, by Johann Strauss the younger, the ‘Waltz King’, will last for ever as that Beethoven's Fifth Symphony will do so. 1958 Vogue Nov. 40 Nightgowns with lace, or ribbons and bows, in waltz length or swirling to the ankles. 1975 New Yorker 17 Nov. 134/2 A waltz-length, front-fastened Edwardian robe of snowy cotton, with textured scrolls of guipure on its yokes, is $75. |
▪ II. waltz, v.
(wɔːlts, wɔːls)
Also 9 valtz, walze, walse.
[f. waltz n. or directly ad. G. walz-en.]
a. intr. To dance a waltz. Also, to be addicted to, or practised in, the waltz; to dance the waltz in a specified manner.
| c 1794 Search after Perfect. iii. i. in New Brit. Theatre (1814) III. 56 The sight of a lady waltzing. 1812 Byron Waltz To Publ., ‘Lord! Mr. Hornem, Can't you see they're valtzing?’ or waltzing (I forget which). 1841 Motley Corr. (1889) I. iv. 93, I waltzed one waltz. 1870 Furnivall Borde's Introd. Knowl. Forewords 110 Oh fair-haired Alice, how well you waltz! |
b. transf. To move lightly, trippingly, or nimbly. Also, to move unconcernedly or boldly, as to waltz into, off, up (to), etc. colloq.
| 1862 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xiv. vii. (1872) V. 237 Big war⁓clouds waltzing hither and thither, occasionally clashing into bloody conflict. 1887 in Amer. Speech (1950) XXV. 39/2 Out on the Mississippi Valley road when his girl waltzed up. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift Amer. 205 All you have to do is to put a good ‘front on’, and waltz in with the crowd. 1900 Century Mag. Feb. 600/1 With a fair wind she waltzed beautifully round the coast. 1935 G. Heyer Death in Stocks v. 63 Tony seemed to have waltzed off for the night, so I wandered out on my own. 1951 J. Fleming Man who looked Back i. 10 Here she was waltzing off with this nurse and leaving Ray..alone. 1974 F. Nolan Oshawa Project ii. 12 He'll walk any nomination..and waltz into the White House without even having to put up a fight. 1978 N. Marsh Grave Mistake viii. 240 P'raps..he'll come waltzing back with a silly grin on his face having been to stay with his auntie. 1979 C. MacLeod Luck runs Out v. 50 If any student or students had..got mixed up in a mess like this, they'd hardly come waltzing up to the President in open assembly and say so. 1980 ‘R. B. Dominic’ Attending Physician xxiv. 218 He waltzed off to be the first one in the lounge. 1984 B. Francis AA Car Duffer's Guide 6/1 That same afternoon..the vicar's lady waltzes in. |
c. quasi-trans. (with advb. extension): To move (a person, oneself) as in a waltz.
| 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. viii, We are always..revolving about the Lord Chancellor and all his satellites, and equitably waltzing ourselves off to dusty death, about Costs. 1881 M. C. Hay Missing II. 237 How Edgar laughed as he waltzed me through the hall! 1883 Harper's Mag. Mar. 600/2 He seized me and waltzed me around the little dining-room. |
d. trans. To transport or convey (something). U.S. joc.
| 1884 ‘Mark Twain’ Huck. Finn iii. 22 They've got to waltz that palace around over the country wherever you want it. 1901 Merwin & Webster Calumet ‘K’ xi. 197 He'd call the men off just the same, and leave us to waltz the timbers around all by ourselves. |
e. to waltz Matilda: see Matilda.
Hence ˈwaltzing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
waltzing mouse = waltzer b.
| 1811 Lady Granville Lett. (1894) I. 22 Her waltzing is the prettiest thing that can be seen. 1811 Ld. Glenbervie Jrnl. (1910) 143 Mr. And Mrs. Johnstone, whose splendid dinners and walzing balls we partook of at Brighton. 1819 Metropolis I. 223, I suppose she is disappointed of her waltzing partner. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xlvii, The Lord George Gaunt was desired to return from Vienna, where he was engaged in waltzing and diplomacy. 1882 O'Donovan Merv Oasis I. iv. 75 They commenced sliding round the ring with a peculiar waltzing step. 1896 Fancy Mice (ed. 4) 45 Waltzing Mice. 1904 Biometrika Jan. 4 Japanese waltzing mice. |