n. & v.
n. (pl. -ies) 1 hist. a kind of ragtime dance in which the whole body is shaken. 2 archaic colloq. = CHEMISE. 3 US an abnormal vibration of esp. the front wheels of a motor vehicle.
v.intr. (-ies, -ied) 1 a hist. dance a shimmy. b move in a similar manner. 2 shake or vibrate abnormally.
[ 20th c.: orig. uncert. ]