Charleston
/ˈtʃɑɹlstən/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: Charlestons · charlestoning · charlestoned
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A dance named for the city of Charleston, South Carolina.
Noun
Examples
Dubbed “the Black Venus”, she danced the charleston in nothing but a string of pearls and a skirt made of 16 rubber bananas, performed with a snake wrapped suggestively round her neck, strolled down the Champs-Élysées with her pet cheetah, and became an international superstar. https://www.theguardi
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To dance the Charleston.
Verb
Examples
The Cambridge professor was charlestoning madly with a well-built woman in a backless evening dress; there were dark patches under his arms where the sweat had soaked through his suit.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Charleston” mean?
A dance named for the city of Charleston, South Carolina.
Is “Charleston” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.