n. 1. A fast, erotic dance of the 1500s of Mexico and Spain. 2. A stately court dance of the 1600s and 1700s, in slow triple time. 3. The music for either of these dances. [French sarabande, from Spanish zarabanda, from Arabic sarband, ritornello, improvised transitional passage joining two movements of a suite, from Persian sarband, turban, wreath, transitional passage of a suite : sar, head; see ker-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + band, fastening, tie, joint; see BUND1.] |
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