disco
Etymology 1
From a shortening of discotheque, from French discothèque.
noun
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(countable, slightly dated) Clipping of discotheque, a nightclub for dancing. Burn down the disco / Hang the blessed DJ / Because the music that they constantly play / It says nothing to me about my life 1986, Morrissey & Johnny Marr (lyrics and music), “Panic”, in The World Won’t Listen, performed by The Smiths -
(uncountable, music) A genre of dance music that was popular in the 1970s, characterized by elements of soul music with a strong Latin-American beat and often accompanied by pulsating lights. And black music became a hot commodity in the form of disco, its lyrics and rhythm laced with a palpable (even ethnic) amiguity, helping people dance and escape their concerns. Even the cry of “burn, baby, burn”, a popular chant during many a 1960s urban rebellion, was co-opted by the times, becoming the chorus for the 1977 dance hit “Disco Inferno.” 2009, Marcus Reeves, Somebody Scream!, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
verb
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(intransitive) To dance disco-style dances. The cause of his ill health is left a little obscure, and no wonder, because shortly before his dreadful deathbed scene he's well enough to join the women in a wild night of disco dancing. You have not lived until you've seen Martin Landau discoing. 2013, Roger Ebert, “B.A.P.S.”, in I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie, Andrews McMeel Publishing -
(intransitive) To go to discotheques. Learning that a discoing sex appeal has returned to the runways is a little like hearing that Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb are reuniting. February 16, 2009, Cathy Horyn, “Designers Square Off: Sexy vs. Classy”, in New York Times
Etymology 2
Clipping of discovery
noun
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(US, law, informal) discovery (pre-trial phase in which evidence is gathered) You don't need to worry about these details at the complaint stage, we can get them in disco. -
(US, law, informal) discovery (materials revealed to the opposing party during the pre-trial phase in which evidence is gathered) Has the disco come in from the defendants yet? We sent them requests almost six weeks ago.
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