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reggae

 - 4 dictionary results

reg⋅gae

[reg-ey]
–noun
a style of Jamaican popular music blending blues, calypso, and rock-'n'-roll, characterized by a strong syncopated rhythm and lyrics of social protest.

Origin:
< Jamaican E, resp. of reggay (introduced in the song “Do the Reggay” (1968) by Frederick “Toots” Hibbert), a dance name based on rege, *strege a dowdy or raggedy fellow; cf. rege-rege ragged clothing, quarrel, row
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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reg·gae   (rěg'ā)   
n.  Popular music of Jamaican origin having elements of Calypso and rhythm and blues, usually with an accent placed on the offbeat.

[Jamaican English, ultimately from rege-rege, ragged clothing, probably from rag1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

reggae [(reg-ay)]

A form of pop music that originated in Jamaica, combining elements of calypso and rhythm and blues (see blues) with a strongly accentuated offbeat. Bob Marley was the first internationally known reggae musician.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

reggae 
1968, Jamaican Eng. (first in song title "Do the Reggay" by Toots & the Maytals), perhaps related to rege-rege "a quarrel, protest," lit. "ragged clothes," variant of raga-raga, alteration and reduplication of Eng. rag.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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