Home US English ballum rancum

Definition of ballum rancum in English:

ballum rancum

Pronunciation /ˈbaləm ˌraŋkəm/

noun

(also ballum rankum)
historical

  • An erotic dance performed (typically naked) by a number of prostitutes with or for a group of (prospective) clients.

Origin

Late 17th century; earliest use found in John Dryden (1631–1700), poet, playwright, and critic. Probably from ball + -um + rank + -um, after Latin nouns with this ending.