watusi

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See also: Watusi

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

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watusi (plural watusis)

  1. 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.
  2. A Christmas firework popular in the Philippines, made with yellow phosphorus, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate, and trinitrotoluene.

Verb

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watusi (third-person singular simple present watusis, present participle watusiing, simple past and past participle watusied)

  1. (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

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English watusi, from Swahili watusi, from wa- (plural marker) +‎ Rwanda-Rundi Tūtsi.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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wátúsi (Baybayin spelling ᜏᜆᜓᜐᜒ)

  1. (dance) watusi (dance)
  2. (pyrotechnics) watusi (firework)

See also

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Further reading

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  • watusi”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018