polka

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɒlkə, ˈpəʊlkə/

noun

  • a lively dance of Bohemian origin in duple time: they finished off by dancing the polka polkas are danced to sprightly music in 2/4 time
  • a piece of music for the polka: a local oompah band played waltzes and polkas

verb (polkas, polkaing, polkaed /-kəd/ or polka'd /-kəɪŋ/)

[no object]
  • dance the polka: a man and wife polkaing are easy to spot

Origin:

mid 19th century: via French and German from Czech půlka 'half-step', from půl 'half'