limbo

Meanings

Noun

• The place where innocent souls exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, notably those of the saints who died before the advent of Christ (limbus patruum) and those of unbaptized but innocent children (limbus infantum).
• Any in-between place, state or condition of neglect or oblivion which results in an unresolved status, delay or deadlock.
• A dance in which dancers take turns crossing under a horizontal bar or stick. The stick is lowered with each round, and the game is won by the player who passes under the bar in the lowest position.

Verb

• To dance in this way.

Origin

• From Middle English lymbo; equivalent to Latin limbus ("border") (cognate with limp), notably in the (ablative) expression in limbō.
• Word of uncertain West Indian (notably Jamaican) origin, probably an alteration of limber as it is a physical agility test.