maxixe

American  

[mak-seeks, mah-shee-shi] / mækˈsiks, mɑˈʃi ʃɪ /

noun

plural

maxixes

1. a ballroom dance originating in Brazil, in moderate duple measure with syncopated rhythms.

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maxixe British  

/ məˈʃiːʃeɪ, məˈʃiːʃ, mækˈsiːks /

noun

1. a Brazilian dance in duple time, a precursor of the tango

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Etymology

Origin of maxixe

1910–15; < Brazilian Portuguese: literally, West Indian gherkin (allegedly a name given to a Carnival figure, from which the dance took its name), said to be < Kimbundu

Example Sentences

For answer Mr. Valentino walked over to Mrs. Gould "with a firm and dignified step," and spun her out upon the floor in a Brazilian maxixe.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was the time of the hobble skirt, the Pianola and the maxixe, the year that Woodrow Wilson won his second term as President by the margin of 3,806 California votes.

From Time Magazine Archive

Courtship and cozening can unfold while the players dance the maxixe.

From Time Magazine Archive

For food, resourceful Tatiana steals artichokes; for fun, the local White Russians have dances in their peasant pantskis�Kazachoks. waltzes, soft shoe, maxixe, tangos, polonaises�name it, they do it.

From Time Magazine Archive

The habanera’s strict dotted 3 + 1 pattern was handed down to the Spanish zarzuela, the Cuban danzon, the Brazilian maxixe and the Argentinian and Uruguayan tango.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall