watusi
See also: Watusi
English edit
Etymology edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun edit
watusi (plural watusis)
- A popular African-inspired dance of the 1960s, fueled by the success of the song The Wah-Watusi by The Orlons in 1962.
- 1962, “The Wah-Watusi”, Kal Mann and Dave Appell (lyrics), performed by The Orlons:
- Baby, baby, that's the way it goes
Nothing happens when you Mash Potatoes
I just gotta fall in love with you
Watusi is the dance to do
Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance.
- 1962, “Land of a Thousand Dances”, Chris Kenner (lyrics), performed by Chris Kenner:
- Twist it in the alley
With long tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy
Doin' the watusi.
- A Christmas firework popular in the Philippines, made with yellow phosphorus, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate, and trinitrotoluene.
Verb edit
watusi (third-person singular simple present watusis, present participle watusiing, simple past and past participle watusied)
- (intransitive) To dance the watusi.
- 2005, Jimmy McDonough, Big bosoms and square jaws: the biography of Russ Meyer, king of the sex film:
- […] but in the middle of it all will be some preposterous, highly charged, not to mention boob-driven image of some chick watusiing away atop an oil rig.
Tagalog edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from English watusi, from Swahili watusi, from wa- (plural marker) + Rwanda-Rundi Tūtsi.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
wátúsi (Baybayin spelling ᜏᜆᜓᜐᜒ)
- (dance) watusi (dance)
- (pyrotechnics) watusi (firework)
See also edit
Further reading edit
- “watusi”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018