tarantella

[ tar-uhn-tel-uh ]

noun

1. a rapid, whirling southern Italian dance in very quick sextuple, originally quadruple, meter, usually performed by a single couple, and formerly supposed to be a remedy for tarantism.
2. a piece of music either for the dance or in its rhythm.

tarantella

/ ˌtærənˈtɛlə /

noun

1. a peasant dance from S Italy
2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, in fast six-eight time

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarantella¹

1775–85; < Italian, equivalent to Tarant ( o ) Taranto + -ella -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarantella¹

C18: from Italian, from Taranto Taranto ; associated with tarantism

Example Sentences

The effect miraculous; danced Tarantella till the bandage came off and he fainted.

From Project Gutenberg

She dances the Tarantella now—by-and-by she will dance to another tune!

From Project Gutenberg

It was the famous tarantella dance which the people of Southern Italy love so much.

From Project Gutenberg

Making an effort to stem it, she recalled her happiness with Maurice after that day of the Tarantella.

From Project Gutenberg

Her Sicilian and his tarantella, the tarantella of his joy in Sicily—they had gone away into the blue.

From Project Gutenberg