type of sensual Brazilian dance, 1988, from Portuguese, said in some sources to mean literally "a beating, a lashing." But others [Watkins] connect it ultimately to Latin lumbus "loin" (see lumbo-).
Entries linking to lambada
lumbo-
word-forming element used since 19c. and meaning "loin, loins," from Latin lumbus "hip, loin" (usually plural), from Proto-Italic *londwo- "loins," from PIE *lendh- (1) "loin" (source also of Sanskrit randhra- "loin (of animals);" Old Church Slavonic ledvije (plural) "loins, kidneys, insides; soul," Russian ljadveja (archaic) "thigh;" Old English lendenu "loins," Old Norse lend, German Lende "loin," Lenden "loins").