2.
(a) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in
competitively by a number of persons or pairs in
succession, as among the colored people of the
Southern United States, and so called, perhaps,
because the exercise is continued until most of those
who take part in it break down.
(b) Any rude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet,
usually by one person at a time. [U.S.]
Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over,
for we are going to have a breakdown to wind up
with. --New Eng.
Tales.