Tarantism

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: tar=ant=ism

CIDE DICTIONARY

Tarantism, n. [It. tarantismo: cf. F. tarentisme. See Tarantula.].

 A nervous affection producing melancholy, stupor, and an uncontrollable desire to dance. It was supposed to be produced by the bite of the tarantula, and considered to be incapable of cure except by protracted dancing to appropriate music.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Tarantism, n. hist. dancing mania, esp. that originating in S. Italy among those who had (actually or supposedly) been bitten by a tarantula.

Etymology

mod.L tarantismus, It. tarantismo f. Taranto in S. Italy f. L Tarentum