watusi

plural watusis

1. A popular African-inspired dance of the 1960s, fueled by the success of the song The Wah-Watusi by The Orlons in 1962.

   Twist it in the alley With long tall Sally Twistin' with Lucy Doin' the watusi.

   1962, “Land of a Thousand Dances”, Chris Kenner (lyrics), performed by Chris Kenner

2. A Christmas firework popular in the Philippines, made with yellow phosphorus, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate, and trinitrotoluene.

present singular third person watusis · participle present watusiing · participle past watusied · past watusied

1. intransitiveTo dance the watusi.

   […] but in the middle of it all will be some preposterous, highly charged, not to mention boob-driven image of some chick watusiing away atop an oil rig.

   2005, Jimmy McDonough, Big bosoms and square jaws: the biography of Russ Meyer, king of the sex film

plural Watusis

1. A member of a Bantu-speaking people living in Rwanda and Burundi; the Tutsi.
2. A cow of a modern American breed.

   Watusis are recommended for crossing (with Longhorns) to obtain good roping cattle for the rodeo.

   1995, Marleen Felius, Cattle Breeds: An Encyclopedia, page 759

   1 more example

   Converted vehicle stopped in Nebraska with gigantic-horned Watusi bovine called Howdy Doody as passenger[.]

   2023 August 31, “US driver pulled over with huge African bull riding shotgun in car”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

3. alternativeAlternative form of watusi (“1960s dance”).

   Like I figure it would be best at that point to break for a fifteen minute Frug or Watusi.

   1965 September 10, The Australian Jewish Herald, page 5, column 4

   2 more examples

   Baby, baby, that's the way it goes Nothing happens when you Mash Potatoes I just gotta fall in love with you Watusi is the dance to do Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance.

   1962, “The Wah-Watusi”, Kal Mann and Dave Appell (lyrics), performed by The Orlons

   Seeing as it was a magic ring, I half expected some big Lord of the Rings moment when it landed in my hand—cold heavy whispering, swirling gray mist, a line of Nazgûl doing the Watusi.

   2016, Rick Riordan, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor, page 213