rant

Meanings

1. To speak or shout at length in uncontrollable anger.
2. To disseminate one's own opinions in a—typically—one-sided, strong manner.
3. To criticize by ranting.
4. To speak extravagantly, as in merriment.
5. To dance rant steps.

1. A criticism done by ranting.
2. A wild, emotional, and sometimes incoherent articulation.
3. A type of dance step usually performed in clogs, and particularly (but not exclusively) associated with the English North West Morris tradition. The rant step consists of alternately bringing one foot across and in front of the other and striking the ground, with the other foot making a little hop.

Etymology

From Dutch ranten, randen (“to talk nonsense, rave”), from Middle Dutch ranten (“to rant, babble, goof around”), of uncertain origin; but apparently related to Middle High German ranzen (“to dance, jump around, frolic”), German ranzen (“to be ardent, be in heat, copulate, mate, ramble, join up”).