war dance

A dance performed before a battle or as a celebration after a victory, as in traditional Native American societies.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

war dance

1. (Anthropology & Ethnology) a ceremonial dance performed before going to battle or after victory, esp by certain North American Indian peoples

2. (Dancing) a dance representing warlike action

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

war′ dance`

(formerly among American Indians) a dance prior to going into battle or in celebration of a victory.

[1705–15, Amer.]

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Noun

war dance - a ceremonial dance performed before a battle or after a victory

ceremonial dance, ritual dance, ritual dancing - a dance that is part of a religious ritual

Translations

war dance

n → Kriegstanz m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

war dance

n → danza di guerra

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

The warriors were still some little distance away, advancing slowly, making, after the manner of their kind, a frightful din with their savage yells and the pounding of their naked feet upon the ground as they leaped up and down in a fantastic war dance.

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"`The wild man from Borneo has just come to town,'" he sang, dancing a species of war dance about his terrified mother and scandalized tutor, and ending up by throwing his arms about the former's neck and kissing her upon either cheek.

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The haka is a type of ancient Maori war dance traditionally used on the battlefield to deter the enemy.

New Zealand group to perform war dance for Taiwan Flora Expo finale

The Maori performed the 'Haka' war dance on Friday as a tribute to Pakistani national Naeem Rashid and his son Talha Naeem who were among those killed in the New Zealand mosque attacks a week ago.

Maori perform 'Haka', pay tribute to Christchurch hero Naeem Rashid and son

CHRISTCHURCH -- The Maori performed the 'Haka' war dance on Friday as a tribute to Pakistani national Naeem Rashid and his son Talha Naeem who were among those killed in the New Zealand mosque attacks a week ago.

Maori perform 'Haka', pay tribute to Christchurch hero Naeem Rashid and son

Christchurch -- New Zealanders are gathering to thump chests, stomp feet and stick out their tongues -- staging impromptu performances of the haka war dance to show solidarity with a Muslim community shattered by the mass shooting in Christchurch.

'I Live! I Die!' -- New Zealand uses haka to heal after attacks

Traditionally seen as a war dance, the performances send out a defiant message in the face of such evil.

THE images of groups [...]

Wrapped in pink and purple flower petals, high school band members performed a K-Pop number, while another group used papier-mache spears and shields in their Igorot war dance. Sunflowers were a recurring theme in the performers' costumes, as were daisies and roses.

Senate candidates met by bottled-up fury at Panagbenga Festival

The haka is a traditional war cry, war dance or challenge from the Maori people of New Zealand.

The haka: What the All Blacks rugby dance is, its history and what it means; The haka is performed ahead of all New Zealand international rugby matches - and here is all you need to know about it

William was doing the war dance with his tongue hanging out and pulling the face just like you see on the rugby.

Wills gets the boys round

Crowds will be treated to the All Black haka, South Africa's Zulu war dance and other traditional dances.

Ban for Aussies' Matilda

Organised by Radio1 DJ Emma B and her pal, author Jane Owen, the annual War Dance in aid of the War Child charity will be hosted by Vernon Kay and Sara Cox, and will include sets from Kosheen, Dirty Vegas and Jon Carter.