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Skank

verb SKANK skaŋk

Also spelled: skanking, scank

Meaning

To dance to ska, reggae or dancehall with a loose, bent-forward, arm-swinging step; also the choppy offbeat guitar or keyboard stroke that drives the music. As a noun it can also name a specific dance move of the moment.

Examples

  • “Di whole dance a skank to di riddim.”

    The whole party is dancing to the beat.

  • “Di guitar a play di skank.”

    The guitar is playing the offbeat chop.

    The 'skank' is the offbeat stroke central to reggae.

  • “Him do a new skank pon di floor.”

    He did a new dance move on the floor.

Origin

Jamaican coinage from the ska and early reggae era; its exact origin is uncertain, but it named both the offbeat rhythm and the dance done to it.

How it's used

In Jamaican and reggae use 'skank' is about dancing and rhythm. It has unrelated slang meanings in other Englishes, so context matters.

Related words