Bojangles

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To dance with quick, rhythmic movements of the feet and body, especially in a lively or entertaining manner
2. To move about in a spirited, bouncy way with rhythmic steps and energetic gestures
3. To perform a lively, rhythmic dance characterized by rapid footwork and animated bodily movements

Etymology: "Bojangles" began as a nickname, not as a word built from older English roots. It belongs to the American tap dancer Bill Robinson, whose stage name was so widely known that it came to stand for his style of dancing. Where the nickname itself came from is uncertain, so the sources do not settle how he acquired it. Robinson was famous for dancing up and down a staircase, which he made into a signature routine in films and on stage. His fame made the name a shorthand for flashy footwork, and speakers could use it for a showy dance step in general. Fred Astaire paid tribute to him with the number "Bojangles of Harlem" in the 1936 film "Swing Time," in which Astaire performs in Robinson's style. The song kept the nickname attached to the performer.