A dance performed by savage tribes before a warlike excursion or in celebration of a victory. Also, a mimetic dance representing warfare. Also transf.
1757. [Burke], Europ. Settlem. Amer., I. II. iv. 183. The captain … strikes his club against the stakes of his cottage, and begins the war dance.
1778. J. Carver, Trav. N. Amer., 269. The War Dance, which they use both before they set out on their war parties, and on their return from them.
1883. G. C. Davies, Norfolk Broads, iv. (1884), 33. The boiling liquid … is rapidly covered with sawdust, which is trodden down by a war-dance on the part of the men.
1886. J. G. Wood, Man & His Handiwork, v. 69–70. In their terrific war-dances, the Maoris put out their tongues to a wonderful extent, the act being equivalent to a challenge to the enemy.
