dressage

IPA/ˈdresɑːʒ/
KK[drɛsˈɑʒ]IPA/ˈdresɑːʒ/

dressage — noun

1. a sport in which a horse and rider perform a set of practised, graceful movement

1.nounC1
Definition

a sport in which a horse and rider perform a set of practised, graceful movements in an arena, with the rider guiding the horse through signals so small that spectators can hardly see them

Example

Fatima performed a flawless dressage routine with her horse at the national championship.

collocation: dressage routine

Hiroshi watched the dressage event as each horse moved in perfect, controlled rhythm.

collocation: dressage event

Common collocations
  • dressage routine
  • dressage competition
  • dressage test
  • dressage arena
Synonyms
  • haute école

    a more formal, French term for classical dressage; rarely used outside specialist contexts

Common collocations

Nouns

  • dressage competition
  • dressage event
  • dressage routine
  • dressage test
  • dressage horse
  • dressage rider
  • dressage judge
  • dressage movements

Phrases

  • practise dressage
  • perform dressage
  • compete in dressage

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Borrowed directly from French in the early 20th century. The French word dressage means 'training' or 'breaking in', and comes from the verb dresser ('to train, to set up, to raise'). The sport itself developed from classical cavalry training and became an Olympic discipline in 1912.