fandango

[ fan-dang-goh ]

noun,plural fan·dan·gos.

a lively Spanish or Spanish American dance in triple time, performed by a man and woman playing castanets.
a piece of music for such a dance or one having its rhythm.

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

Origin of fandango

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

Words Nearby fandango

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fandango in a sentence

He ceased to find pleasure in his nets and boar spears, in the fandango and the bullfight.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington Macaulay
She had heard the Methodists were having a fandango down in the valley.
The Transformation of Job | Frederick Vining Fisher
Here a spirited fandango was going on, and they stood for some time watching the movements of the performers.
Martin Rattler | R.M. Ballantyne
Tilted pensively against the piano, a guitar—guitar capable of playing the Spanish fandango by itself, if you give it a start.
Life On The Mississippi, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Four skillful, or if not skillful at least indefatigable guitar-players played a fandango.
Pepita Ximenez | Juan Valera

British Dictionary definitions for fandango

fandango

/ (fænˈdæŋɡəʊ) /

nounplural -gos

an old Spanish courtship dance in triple time between a couple who dance closely and provocatively
a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

Origin of fandango

C18: from Spanish, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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