Mattachine

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A traditional Renaissance dance performed by masked dancers with swords or sticks ; the early American gay rights organization founded in Los Angeles in 1950
2. An old European folk dance in which masked performers move with swords or sticks ; the pioneering homosexual rights group formed in the United States in 1950
3. A masked ceremonial dance of medieval and Renaissance origin ; the American homophile organization founded in 1950 to advocate for gay people

Etymology: Mattachine originally named a masked dancer in Renaissance festivals, especially in Italy and France, who performed a lively dance with swords or sticks, often in costumes hung with bells and ribbons. The masks hid the performers' faces, a detail that later gave the term a new meaning. Its Italian source, "mattaccino" or "matassino," has an uncertain origin. One suggestion links it to "matto," meaning mad or fool, which would suit the wild, clownish performances, but this remains unproven. In the twentieth century, Harry Hay and his companions founded a gay rights organization in Los Angeles and named it the Mattachine Society. Members had to conceal their identities to stay safe, so the old image of dancers behind masks fit their situation.

Synonyms: sword dance