shimmy etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: shimmeren, to shine, sparkle
  • Old English: scimrian, scymrian, to gleam, flash
  • Proto-Germanic: skimraz, shiny
  • Proto-Indo-European: *sker-, *skere-, to gleam, shine

Meaning:

To move in a rapid, quivering manner, especially with side-to-side or back-and-forth motion.

Origin:

The word "shimmy" likely evolved from the same Proto-Indo-European root as the words "sheen," "shine," and "shimmer." The original meaning of the verb was to move or flash with a bright light. Over time, the word came to be used more generally for any kind of rapid, quivering motion.

"Shimmy" first appeared in English in the mid-15th century, and it was originally used to describe the movement of light or water. By the 16th century, the word had begun to be used to describe the movement of people or animals. It was not until the 20th century that "shimmy" came to be specifically associated with the shaking of the body, often as a form of dance.

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