gaoulé

French

Etymology

From the word gahouler (or cahouler).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɡa.u.le/

Noun

gaoulé m (uncountable)

(slang) whispering
(slang, Creole) mischievous public behavior, or "dirty dancing" (i.e., sensual, licentious dancing)

Usage notes

The term came to be used as the name of a slave revolt on the island of Martinique in 1717 due to a remark, in an official report of that uprising, that a slave was alleged to have observed in amazement that "White people are just as good at 'gaoulé' as blacks are!".