tarantella

A lively, whirling southern Italian dance in 6/8 time, once thought to be a remedy for tarantism.

The music for this dance.

A rapid, whirling dance for one couple, originating in southern Italy and specially common in the sixteenth century, when it was popularly supposed to be a remedy for tarantism.

Music for such a dance, or in its rhythm, which in early examples was quadruple, but is now sextuple and very quick. It is usually characterized by sharp transitions from major to minor.

A rapid and delirious sort of Neapolitan dance in 6-8 time, which moves in whirling triplets; — so called from a popular notion of its being a remedy against the poisonous bite of the tarantula. Some derive its name from Taranto in Apulia.

Music suited to such a dance.

A rapid dance in 6/8 time, originating in Italy, or a piece of music for such a dance.

music composed in six-eight time for dancing the tarantella

a lively whirling Italian dance for two persons