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Tarantella

3 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means a rapid whirling dance of southern Italy

Where does the word "tarantella" come from? It comes from Italian Taranto, passing through Italian before entering English (1780s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Taranto
Italian · medieval
"Taranto"
a port city in Apulia
2
Stage 2 of 3
tarantella
Italian · 1600s
"Taranto dance"
the frantic dance believed to cure the bite of the tarantula
3
Stage 3 of 3
tarantella
English · 1780s
"whirling dance"
borrowed with Italian music and dance
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Read the full story

Tarantella’s story begins in Italian: Taranto meant “Taranto.” A port city in Apulia. Within Italian, it grew into tarantella by 1600s. The frantic dance believed to cure the bite of the tarantula. It reached English by 1780s as tarantella. Borrowed with Italian music and dance. Today, tarantella means a rapid whirling dance of southern Italy.