German 'Walzer' (turning dance), from 'walzen' (to roll), from PIE *wel- — once scandalous, now elegant.
A ballroom dance in triple time performed by a couple turning in circles; a piece of music for this dance.
From German 'Walzer' (a waltz, a turning dance), from 'walzen' (to roll, to turn, to revolve, to dance the waltz), from Old High German 'walzan' (to roll, to revolve), from Proto-Germanic *walt- (to turn, to roll), from PIE *wel- (to turn, to roll, to wind). The same PIE root gives English 'revolve,' 'volume' (originally a rolled scroll), 'valve' (a turning door), 'wallet' (a rolled pouch), and 'walrus' (possibly from a Nordic compound). The waltz originated in Austria and southern Germany in the late 18th century and was considered
When the waltz first arrived in English ballrooms around 1812, it caused a scandal. Lord Byron satirized it, and The Times of London called it 'disgusting' because the man held the woman's waist — unprecedented physical intimacy on a public dance floor. The PIE root *wel- (to turn, to roll) is hidden inside 'revolve' (turn back), 'volume' (a rolled scroll), 'involve' (to roll into), 'evolve' (to roll out), 'valve' (a turning door-leaf), and even 'vulva' (a