noun General Slang

Jitterbug

/ˈdʒɪtərbʌɡ/ · noun · slang

An energetic swing dancer, or the wild, acrobatic dance they did to hot jazz.

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Definitions

1

As a verb, to dance in that wild swinging style.

“Let's jitterbug to this one, baby.”
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2

An enthusiastic swing dancer who threw themselves into the music.

“The jitterbugs took over the floor at the Savoy.”
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3

The lively, acrobatic swing dance itself, full of spins and lifts.

“They danced the jitterbug till they could hardly stand.”
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Jitterbug In A Sentence

Every jitterbug in Harlem knew the Lindy Hop cold.
The band played fast so the jitterbugs could really fly.
She could jitterbug all night without missing a beat.

Origin & Usage

1930s swing-era term from Harlem, popularized by Cab Calloway, who recorded 'Call of the Jitter Bug' in 1934 and a song titled 'Jitter Bug.' It named both the frenetic swing dancers and the dance done at ballrooms like the Savoy.

People Also Ask

What does jitterbug mean?

It means an energetic swing dancer, or the wild acrobatic dance they performed to hot jazz.

Where did jitterbug come from?

From 1930s Harlem swing culture, popularized by Cab Calloway's recordings about the jitter bug.

Is the jitterbug related to the Lindy Hop?

Yes, jitterbug was a broad name for energetic swing dancing, of which the Lindy Hop was the signature form.

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