LEGONG

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 25 May 2012

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Word of the Day:

  LEGONG  (n. pl. -S)


Definition(s):

1. (n.) an intricate Balinese dance performed by young girls

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:

The LEGONG dance is usually performed by two young girls in elaborate costumes and is characterized by graceful hand movements, footwork, and facial expressions.  The word entered English directly from Balinese, a language spoken in Bali and several other Indonesian islands.

We could spend many moons exploring words for types of dances, as there are so many of them and they open such windows into the language and traditions of other cultures — as with the CZARDAS of Hungary and LEGONG of Bali and many others — but, alas, our terpsichorean tour through the world of dance has arrived at its finale.

Recapping this week’s featured words:
CORYPHEE, FOUETTE, CHASSE, CZARDAS, and LEGONG

Also mentioned:
ARABESK, ARABESQUE, BALLERINA, BALLETOMANE, BALLETOMANIA, BALLONNE, BATTERIE, BATTEMENT, BATTU, CHAINE, CORYPHAEUS, DANSEUR, DANSEUSE, DEVELOPPE, ENTRECHAT, ETOILE, FIGURANT, GLISSADE, JETE, PAS, PIROUETTE, PLIE, POINTE, RELEVE, SASHAY, and TERPSICHOREAN

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