schuhplattler

noun

schuh·platt·ler

ˈshüˌplätlə(r)

plural -s

often capitalized

: a Bavarian courtship dance in which before the couple dances together the woman calmly does steps resembling those of a waltz while the man dances vigorously about her swinging his arms and slapping his thighs and the soles of his feet

Word History

Etymology

German, from German dialect schuochplattlar, from schuochplattln to slap the soles of one's shoes (from schuoch shoe—from Old High German scuoh —+ plattln to strike two flat objects together, from German platte slab, from Old High German platta stone slab, from Medieval Latin, flat object, from assumed Vulgar Latin, feminine of plattus flat) + -ar -er (from Old High German -āri)