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jota

[ hoh-tuh; Spanish haw-tah ]
/ ˈhoʊ tə; Spanish ˈhɔ tɑ /

noun, plural jo·tas [hoh-tuhz; Spanish haw-tahs]. /ˈhoʊ təz; Spanish ˈhɔ tɑs/.

a Spanish dance in triple meter, performed by a couple and marked by complex rhythms executed with the heels and castanets.
the music for this dance.

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Origin of jota

1840–50; <Spanish, probably Old Spanish sota dance, derivative of sotar to dance <Latin saltāre

Words nearby jota

josser, joss house, joss stick, jostle, jot, jota, jotter, jotting, Jotun, Jotunheim, joual
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for jota

British Dictionary definitions for jota

jota
/ (Spanish ˈxɔta) /

noun

a Spanish dance with castanets in fast triple time, usually to a guitar and voice accompaniment

Word Origin for jota

Spanish, probably modification of Old Spanish sota, from sotar to dance, from Latin saltāre
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