dancer (n.)
c. 1300, from Old French dancier (12c., Modern French danser), which is of unknown origin, perhaps from Low Frankish dintjan and akin to Old Frisian dintje “tremble, quiver.” A word of uncertain origin but which, through French influence in arts and society, has become the primary word for those who participate in this activity from Spain to Russia (Italian danzare, Spanish danzar, Rumanian dansa, Swedish dansa, German tanzen).
