sashay
UK[saˈʃeɪ]US[saˈʃeɪ]
v
To walk in a confident and relaxed way, moving your body from side to side in a way that attracts attention.
v
To move or proceed in a casual or ostentatious manner.
Etymology
The word 'sashay' entered American English in the 19th century as an alteration and folk-etymological adaptation of the French verb 'chassé', a ballet term meaning "to glide" or "to chase." The French 'chassé' itself derives from the past participle of 'chasser', meaning "to chase," tracing back to Latin 'captare', meaning "to seize." The English transformation from 'chassé' to 'sashay' reflects a phonetic reinterpretation, blending the original French sound with an association of a swaying, sliding motion. This evolution imbued the word with its modern sense of moving with a casual, confident, and often showy glide.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from French, adopted as a single, unsegmentable unit in English.
Examples
She sashayed across the room, turning every head at the party.
The model sashayed down the runway with effortless grace.
Don't just sashay in here an hour late without an explanation.