English edit

Etymology edit

jitter +‎ bug, after the 1934 Cab Calloway song Jitter Bug.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/
  • (file)

Noun edit

jitterbug (plural jitterbugs)

  1. (colloquial) A nervous or jittery person.
  2. (jazz) A jazz musician or aficionado.
  3. (dance) An uptempo jazz or swing dance which embellishes on the two-step pattern and frequently incorporates acrobatic style swing steps.
  4. Synonym of diddley bow (type of stringed instrument)

Synonyms edit

Descendants edit

(dance):

  • Japanese: ジルバ (jiruba)
    • Chinese: 吉魯巴吉鲁巴 (jílǔbā)

Verb edit

jitterbug (third-person singular simple present jitterbugs, present participle jitterbugging, simple past and past participle jitterbugged)

  1. To dance the jitterbug.