An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Tanz
Tanz, m., ‘dance, ball,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tanz, m., to which MidHG. and ModHG. tanzen is allied. The word was first adopted in the 11th cent. In OHG. the verbs were salzôn (which, like AS. sealtian, was borrowed at an early period from Lat. saltâre), and the genuine Teut. tûmôn and leihhan (comp. Leich). The late appearance of MidHG. tanzen tends to show that it is a loan-word; it is based on the equiv. Romance cognates, Ital. danzare (Fr. danser, whence E. to dance, and Du. dansen). It is true that, considering the late period at which it was borrowed, the HG. t compared to Ital. d is abnormal. The Romance cognates are themselves of Teut. origin, which has been sought in OHG. dansôn, ‘to draw’ (allied to Goth. þinsan; see gedunsen).