MOONWALK Meaning and
Definition
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Moonwalk is a verb that refers to the action of walking on the moon's surface. However, in a broader sense, moonwalk can also describe a dance move characterized by an individual appearing to smoothly slide their feet backwards while still moving forward. This dance move gained worldwide popularity after it was famously performed by the legendary pop artist, Michael Jackson.
In terms of the original meaning, moonwalk refers to the act of astronauts walking on the moon's surface during space missions. This term was first introduced in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission when Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon. The phrase was coined due to the peculiar walking style that astronauts adopted on the moon due to the lower gravity compared to Earth. The moonwalk allowed for easy and low-impact movement by sliding the boots across the lunar surface, resulting in a smooth gliding motion.
However, the term moonwalk gained significant cultural significance when Michael Jackson showcased his iconic dance move during a performance of his hit song "Billie Jean" on the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever in 1983. This distinctive move involved Jackson seemingly defying gravity by smoothly sliding backwards while his body seemed to move forward. He popularized this dance move in subsequent performances and it became closely associated with his image and musical style. The moonwalk quickly became recognized as one of the most famous dance moves in history.
Common Misspellings for MOONWALK
Etymology of MOONWALK
The word "moonwalk" is a compound word derived from two elements: "moon" and "walk".
1. Moon: The term "moon" can be traced back to the Old English word "mona" and the Middle English word "mone". Both of these words are derived from the Proto-Germanic word "menon", which is also related to the Old Norse word "máni" and the Gothic word "mena". Ultimately, these words can be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root "*meh₁-", meaning "to measure" or "to count".
2. Walk: The word "walk" originates from the Old English word "wealcan", which means "to roll" or "to turn". It is also associated with the Middle Dutch word "walken" and the Old High German word "walken", both of which have similar meanings.
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