a-go-go

1 of 2

noun

ä-ˈgō-(ˌ)gō 

ə-

: a nightclub for dancing to popular music : disco

a-go-go

2 of 2

adjective

1

: go-go sense 1

2

: being in a whirl of motion

3

: being up-to-date

—often used postpositively

Word History

Etymology

Noun

after Whisky à Gogo, café and disco in Paris, France, from French whisky whiskey + à gogo "in abundance, galore," going back to Middle French, reduplicative formation from the same expressive base as gogue "joking, pleasantry" — more at agog

Adjective

in part derivative of a-go-go entry 1, in part borrowed directly from French à gogo "in abundance"

First Known Use

Noun

1965, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1960, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!