war dance

American  

noun

1. a dance preliminary to going into battle or in celebration of a victory, as formerly among American Indians.

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war dance British  

noun

1. a ceremonial dance performed before going to battle or after victory, esp by certain North American Indian peoples

2. a dance representing warlike action

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Etymology

Origin of war dance

An Americanism dating back to 1705–15

Example Sentences

Accomplished ballroom dancers, sluggards who knew neither traditional nor Western dancing, all joined in the indlamu, the traditional Zulu war dance.

From Literature

Worsley gave a lecture on New Zealand and taught several volunteers the Maori war dance, the haka.

From Literature

But the repeated grunting on every shot is as unsportsmanlike as doing a war dance after every winner.

From New York Times

Situated at the swampy mouth of the New River, it is an ideal training ground for the sorts of amphibious assaults that are the Marines’ favored means of arriving at the war dance.

From Newsweek

With thrusting spears and thumping feet, the Philippines’ Higaunon tribe perform a frenzied war dance to celebrate this year’s Kaamulan festival, high in the emerald peaks of insurgency-wracked Mindanao Island.

From Time