morris

IPA/ˈmɒr.ɪs ˌdɑːn.sər/
KK[mˈɔrəs]IPA/ˈmɔːr.ɪs ˌdæn.sɚ/

morris — noun

  • morrissingular
  • morrisesplural

1. an old English festival dance done by a group, often with bells, sticks, or ribb

1.nounC2
Definition

an old English festival dance done by a group, often with bells, sticks, or ribbons as part of the performance

Example

Villagers performed a morris outside the church after the fair.

perform a morris at a village event

At noon, the morris began with sticks, bells, and loud cheers.

the morris as a named performance

Common collocations
  • perform a morris
  • watch the morris
  • learn a morris
Synonyms
  • folk dance

    a much broader term for a traditional dance from any culture

  • country dance

    another traditional group dance, but not specifically the bell-wearing English form

  • traditional dance

    a general label without the specific English festival meaning

Grammar Patterns

a morris

the morris

perform a morris

Usage Note

Mostly used in British cultural or historical contexts. Modern speakers often mention the wider activity as morris dancing, while morris can name one dance performance.

2. someone who performs in morris dancing

2.nounC2
Definition

someone who performs in morris dancing

Example

Jin became a morris after joining the village dance team.

become a morris for the performer sense

The youngest morris checked his bells before the music started.

Common collocations
  • young morris
  • each morris
  • a morris dancing
Synonyms
  • morris dancer

    the fuller and more usual modern expression

  • folk dancer

    broader and not limited to this English tradition

  • performer

    very general and does not show the dance tradition

Grammar Patterns

a morris

the morris

each morris

Usage Note

This sense is rarer than the dance sense. In modern everyday English, morris dancer is usually clearer than using morris alone for the person.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Morris is much more specific than folk dance. Folk dance can describe almost any traditional local dance, but morris names an English festival form that often includes bells, sticks, handkerchiefs, and team movement. Country dance is also traditional and social, yet it usually suggests a different set of patterns and partner formations. Maypole dance is linked to ribbons around a pole, so it points to another custom even when both appear at spring events. If you want the exact cultural tradition, morris is the right word. If you only mean a traditional dance in general, folk dance is safer. A village may host a morris after lunch, but children might perform a maypole dance earlier in the same celebration.

morris ↗folk dancecountry dancemaypole dance

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

The dance name morris is old in English and is often linked to an earlier word meaning Moorish. The historical path is not fully certain, but the name became attached to this traditional English festival dance, and later it could also refer to one person who performs it.

First known use

1503

1503, in the meaning defined above