entrechat

n.
A jump in ballet during which the dancer crosses the legs a number of times, alternately back and forth.

[French, earlier entrechas, alteration (influenced by entre, between , and chasse, chase) of Italian (capriola) intrecciata, intricate (caper), feminine past participle of intrecciare, to intertwine : in-, in (from Latin; see in-²) + treccia, tress; see tress.]

entrechat (Fr., caper). A jump in which the dancer's legs cross rapidly in front and behind each other while still in the air. They range from an entrechat deux, where the legs are crossed once, to an entrechat dix. Even-numbered entrechats are finished by landing on both feet, odd-numbered with the dancer landing on one foot. Camargo is said to be the first to perform an entrechat quatre on stage and shortened her skirt in order to do so.

[F.] /A(n) tre shaw/  a ballet leap in which the dancer repeatedly crosses the legs; used figuratively, as in his verbal entrechats