\Break"down`\, n.
1. The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage;
   downfall.
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.