— tarantist , n.
/tar"euhn tiz'euhm/ , n.
a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, esp. as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula. Also, tarentism . Cf. tarantula (def. 3).
[ 1630-40; tarantismus. See TARANTO, -ISM ]