Gabba

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genre of electronic dance music characterized by very fast beats and hardcore techno elements; a subculture associated with this music style; a term sometimes referring to lively or excessive talking
2. An intense form of techno music featuring rapid tempos and aggressive sounds; the community or culture that embraces this musical style; informal use meaning chatter or talkativeness
3. A style of high-speed electronic music noted for its pounding rhythms and raw energy; the social scene connected to this music; colloquially used to describe glib or continuous speech

Etymology: Gabba is the alternative spelling of gabber, a word for the fast, hard-edged style of techno music. Its roots run through Dutch and back to a Hebrew-derived word for "friend." Dutch "gabber" literally meant "friend" or "mate," and it was borrowed from Yiddish "khaver," which came from the Hebrew word for companion. That Yiddish-Hebrew root is also the source of "chaver," a doublet of the same word that reached English through a different path. The Dutch slang term gained a second life in the Netherlands' 1990s dance scene, where it was applied to the blistering tempos of hardcore techno. The musical sense grew out of that friendly, informal use, so a word for a companion became the name of a genre of music made for raves and club nights.

Synonyms: gabber, hardcore techno