tarantella

[ tar-uh n-tel-uh ]
/ ˌtær ənˈtɛl ə /

noun

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.
a piece of music either for the dance or in its rhythm.

Origin of tarantella

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tarantella

tarantella tarantula

Words nearby tarantella

taramea, taranaki, taranaki gate, taranaki wind, tarantass, tarantella, tarantino, tarantism, taranto, tarantula, tarantula nebula

Example sentences from the Web for tarantella

British Dictionary definitions for tarantella

tarantella
/ (ˌtærənˈtɛlə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for tarantella

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