To hit lightly or dance to music with a rhythmic movement, or as a noun, a style of jazz music.
Imitative word that emerged in 1940s American jazz culture, possibly from the rhythmic sound 'bebop'. The word captures both the percussive nature of the music and the bouncing movement it inspired.
Bebop revolutionized jazz in the 1940s by emphasizing complex improvisation and fast tempos, with musicians like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie leading the movement. The word 'bop' itself became so associated with coolness and rhythm that it expanded beyond music to describe any light, rhythmic action.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.