Cooch

/kuːtʃ/ noun

Definition

A style of belly dancing or hip movement, often seen in carnival performances or burlesque shows.

Etymology

From Hindi 'kucch' meaning 'to dance' or possibly from Hindustani origins; entered English in the early 1900s through American carnival and vaudeville culture, where it was a popular exotic dance form.

Kelly Says

The 'cooch' became so famous at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago that it scandalized Victorian society—authorities actually tried to ban performers from doing hip movements, but the dance became even more popular as a result.

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