Definition of tarantism Tarantism

tar•ant•ism

We found 5 definitions of tarantism from 5 different sources.

What does tarantism mean?

WordNet

Noun

Plural: tarantisms

tarantism - a nervous disorder characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance; popularly attributed to bite of the southern European tarantula or wolf spider

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Wiktionary

tarantism (Noun)
An extreme urge to dance, popularly thought to have been caused by the bite of a tarantula and prevalent in southern Italy in the 15th through 17th centuries.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

tarantism (n.)
A nervous affection producing melancholy, stupor, and an uncontrollable desire to dance. It was supposed to be produced by the bite of the tarantula, and considered to be incapable of cure except by protracted dancing to appropriate music.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

tarantism
tar′ant-izm, n. an epidemic leaping or dancing mania, somewhat resembling chorea—also Tar′entism.—ns. Tarantel′la, Tarentel′la, a lively Neapolitan dance in triplets for one couple—thought a remedy for tarantism; Taran′tula, Taren′tula, a species of spider found in South Italy, whose bite is much dreaded, and was long supposed to cause tarantism. [It. tarantola—Taranto—L. Tarentum, a town in South Italy where the spider abounds.]