shimmy

Meanings

1. A dance move involving thrusting the shoulders back and forth alternately.
2. A dance that was popular in the 1920s.
3. An abnormal vibration, especially in the wheels of a vehicle.
4. A sleeveless chemise.

1. To perform a shimmy (dance movement involving thrusting the shoulders back and forth alternately).
2. To climb something (e.g. a pole) gradually (e.g. using alternately one's arms then one's legs).
3. To vibrate abnormally, as a broken wheel.
4. To shake the body as if dancing the shimmy.
5. To move across a narrow ledge, either by hanging from it or by strafing on it along the wall.

Etymology

A back-formation from chemise (mistaken for a plural).