charleston
charleston Lexical Profile
charleston Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A historic coastal city and major port in South Carolina, United States, renowned for its cobblestone streets and antebellum architecture.
American The capital and most populous city of the state of West Virginia, United States, situated at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers.
A lively 1920s ballroom dance characterized by fast, outward heel kicks and an energetic up-and-down movement of the body.
"The flappers dazzled the audience by performing an energetic Charleston during the vintage dance competition."
• verb
To perform the lively 1920s dance characterized by outward heel kicks.
"The couple charlestoned across the floor until the band stopped playing."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the cities or the specific 1920s dance, the word is strictly capitalized as 'Charleston', though it frequently appears in lowercase when functioning as a verb.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from 'Charles Town', originally named in honor of King Charles II of England. The famous 1920s dance was named after the city of Charleston, South Carolina, where the syncopated rhythm is said to have originated among African American dockworkers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.