Where did the term "polka dot" come from?
by 
Erin Albrecht
ANSWERS: 1
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In the 1840s, the polka was sweeping America. It was the latest dance craze, like the Charleston of the 1920s or the Macarena of a few summers ago. In an effort to cash in on the fad, manufacturers began naming all sorts of thing polka. Polka gauze, polka hats, polka curtain bands and many other products with the polka name hit the market in the 1840s. Although, the actual term polka dot is not attested to until 1866. Of these, only polka dots survive today. The term polka dot first appears in the New York Times on 21 Sep 1866: "It is effectively trimmed with a number of rows of silk galloon of the same shade, with black or white brocaded polka dots." There are two possible origins for the word polka. It could come from the Czech pulka, or half-step, Pul meaning half. Or, it could be a combination of the polonaise and mazurka. (Sources: Oxford English Dictionary Online, Proquest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times) In case you're curious, according to the Dictionary of Etymology, the word polka literally means Polish woman.
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