noun / verb

shimmy

SHIM-ee/ˈʃɪmi/

A rapid wavering movement from side to side.

The dancer adds a quick shimmy as the music speeds up.

A middle-aged South Asian woman shimmies in place, rapidly shaking her shoulders side to side with relaxed bent arms and steady feet.

Etymology

The verb first described a suggestive dance, then extended to vibration, including that of vehicles. Its origin is uncertain: a dialectal word for a chemise and a connection with shimmer are both possibilities.

In context

ZoukNerds33:17

they would go to the salsa room and just hang out and, you know, have fun, have a drink, shake a little bit, let it shimmy.

Traditional vs Modern: Preserving the Roots of the Dance (S05 Ep76)

More examples

Her shoulders shimmy to the beat.
The steering wheel shimmies at highway speeds.
The mechanic checks the front tires for the cause of the shimmy.

Forms

shimmy · shimmies · shimmied · shimmying

Similar words

wobble: Suggests unsteadiness or poor balance rather than deliberate body movement.
sway: Usually describes slower, smoother side-to-side movement than a shimmy.
shake: Covers repeated movement in any direction, not just side to side.