Wiktionary
n. (context ballet English) A ballet move involving a beating action with an extended leg
Wikipedia
In ballet, battement is an alternating side-to-side movement of the working (non-supporting) leg. Battements are typically performed in multiples, quickly and in rapid succession so that the working foot appears to be fluttering or vibrating. They are usually executed in front (en avant or à la quatrieme devant), to the side (à la seconde) or in back (en arrière or à la quatrieme derrière). The word battement is of French origin, meaning "beat".
Usage examples of "battement".
Notre-Dame dans la rumeur des cavalcades et les tocsins pareils aux battements de coeur du soleil.
I saw that fine figure coming forward with measured steps, and when the dancer had arrived in front of the stage, he raised slowly his rounded arms, stretched them gracefully backward and forward, moved his feet with precision and lightness, took a few small steps, made some battements and pirouettes, and disappeared like a butterfly.
When again I was drawn up the Erbsberg, the hard-working line was reeling off petits battements sur le cou-de-pied: fine sweeping arm movements that sprinkled innumerable classical dots on the soft thawing air.
Beer glass and lemonade glass meet and tinkle obediently, while in the increasing heat the chorus of martyred ballet slippers under the ceiling begins a little dance: échappé croisé, échappé effacé, assemblé assemblé, petits battements sur le cou-de-pied.
Mme Noelle clapped her hands and I swung my leg out of the grand battement position.
A grand battement is a warm-up exercise meant to loosen the hips and hamstring muscles of the legs.
Extension could also be higher, making easier the spectacular arabesques and grand battement kicks.
She told the kids to dance around using only plies and grand battements as the basis for their dance steps.