rock steady

American  

noun

1. the style of vocalized Jamaican popular music that succeeded ska and preceded reggae in the 1960s, influenced by American soul music and having a more upbeat tempo with emphasis on electric bass and guitar rather than on horns.

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rock steady British  

noun

1. a type of slow Jamaican dance music of the 1960s

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Etymology

Origin of rock steady

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

It replenished its electrons not every 12 hours, but every 30 seconds, keeping the intensity of the x-ray beams rock steady.

From Science Magazine • May 3, 2023

At first, the Wailers, as they became known, blended the Jamaican musical styles of rock steady and ska with the rhythm-and-blues and jazz they heard on U.S. radio stations.

From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2021

So, rock steady this fall with fashionable pieces that pay homage to the looks of Franklin, who once called Los Angeles home.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2018

“For a putter, that translates to a rock steady swing path and an enlarged area of forgiveness off the face. So all you have to do is aim,” he said.

From Golf Digest • Jan. 24, 2018

The Hound leaned forward as he rode, his lance rock steady, but Jaime shifted his seat deftly in the instant before impact.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin