fandango

[fan-dang-goh]

noun

plural

fandangos 

1. a lively Spanish or Spanish American dance in triple time, performed by a man and woman playing castanets.

2. a piece of music for such a dance or one having its rhythm.

3. (especially in the southwest U.S.) a ball or dance.

fandango

/ fænˈdæŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. an old Spanish courtship dance in triple time between a couple who dance closely and provocatively

2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

Word History and Origins

Origin of fandango¹

First recorded in 1765–70; < Spanish, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Portuguese fadango (unattested), from fado fado ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fandango¹

C18: from Spanish, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Badenoch said that when she had visited the country when her father died, she had to get a visa, which was "a big fandango".

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For example, a draft of the operatic section of the song features the “Galileo,” “Bismillah,” “fandango” and “thunderbolt and lightning” that remain in the final lyrics of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

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Another page looks like a word cloud, with Mercury scrawling dozens of words and phrases including “fandango,” “thunderbolts and lighting” and “belladonna.”

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With its Baroque-flavored organ solo and mysterious opening line - "We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor" — the song became one of the signature tunes of the 1967 "Summer of Love."

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With its Baroque-flavored organ solo and mysterious opening line – “We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor” — the song became one of the signature tunes of the 1967 “Summer of Love.”

Read more on Seattle Times