noun
Barnaby
noun
1
Historical: a brisk, energetic country dance, or by extension any quick, jerky movement.
"The fiddler struck up a barnaby and the dancers spun across the floor."
How to Use Barnaby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old term for a fast, lively dance.
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The fiddler struck up a _____ and the dancers spun across the floor.
Etymology
The given name Barnaby comes from Barnabas, ultimately from Aramaic bar nəḇiyyā, "son of a prophet."