jitterbug en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/
Etymology
From jitter + bug, after the 1934 Cab Calloway song “Jitter Bug”.
Meanings
- (colloquial) A nervous or jittery person.
- (qualifier:jazz) A jazz musician or aficionado.
- An uptempo jazz or swing dance which embellishes on the two-step pattern and frequently incorporates acrobatic style swing steps.
- Synonym of diddley bow (“type of stringed instrument”).
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| jitterbugs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Descendants
Synonyms
jazzbo (jazz musician) · worrywart · nervous wreck · diddley bow · jazzperson (jazz musician) · bundle of nerves (nervous or jittery person) · jazzman (jazz musician)