hula

[hoo-luh]

noun

a sinuous Hawaiian native dance with intricate arm movements that tell a story in pantomime, usually danced to rhythmic drumming and accompanied by chanting.

Origin of hula

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1815–25

Also called hu·la-hu·la.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hula

Contemporary Examples of hula

That results in Ed Henry hula dancing on-air and other fluff segments.
Lindsey Graham on Bracing for 2012 and More Sunday Talk
The Daily Beast Video
January 2, 2011
And then they burst through the door and come running into the room as I'm delivering the speech, in their hula skirts.
Suzy Welch Dishes
Tina Brown
April 16, 2009

Historical Examples of hula

Ohe (-he)--bamboo; a flute; a variety of the hula (pp. 135, 145).
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii
Nathaniel Bright Emerson
Ku'i (ku'i)--to smite; to beat; the name of a hula (p. 250).
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii
Nathaniel Bright Emerson
It was he also who introduced into the hula the kakeke as an instrument of music.
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii
Nathaniel Bright Emerson
For an account of the first hula we may look to the story of Pele.
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii
Nathaniel Bright Emerson
In truth, the actors in the hula no longer suit the action to the word.
Unwritten Literature of Hawaii
Nathaniel Bright Emerson

British Dictionary definitions for hula

hula

hula-hula

noun

a Hawaiian dance performed by a woman

Word Origin for hula

from Hawaiian

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

Word Origin and History for hula

"traditional dance of Hawaii," 1825, from Hawaiian. As a verb from 1952. Hula hoop first recorded in fall of 1958, when it was a craze; so called from resemblance of motions of one using it to the dancers' hip circles.