ballet (1) (t silent), ballette

[In Dan., Dut., Ger., & Fr. ballet; Ital. ballet to; from ball are = to dance, to shake; Lat. ballo =to hop, to dance; Gr. βάλλω ( ballo ) = to throw, and βαλλίζω ( ballizō ) = to throw the leg about, to dance.] [BALL (2), BALLAD.] Dramatic Art: A dramatic representation, consisting of dancing and pantomime, regulated by the strains of music, and generally attended by the subordinate acce ories of scenery and decoration. It was first introduced by the Greeks, was copied and developed by the Romans, and was revived in more modern times by the Italians, whose example diffused it over most civilised countries. Our own nation received it from the French. Till the decline of the Roman empire, the performers were men, then women were introduced, and have since been the chief actors in the ballet. The bad taste of the play-going public has always tended to drag down the ballet to the low level of a mere exhibition of gymnastic skill in dancing, whereas its original and specific aim was to act by gesture instead of words a drama illustrative of the life, manhers, and costumes of foreign nations. 420 băl-lět (2), s. [Dimin. of BALL (1).] Her. A kind of bearing in coats-of-arms. It consists of bezants, plates, hurts, ., distinguished from each other by their colour. † bál-li-age, s . [BALL (1), 8s.] A duty payable to the City of London on the goods of aliens. * bal-li-ard, a. & s. [BILLIARD.]