The English language, and indeed any living language, is constantly evolving. It has to to keep pace with life itself. Often this involves borrowing from other languages, cultures even. English has for over a thousand years always been a jumble of other languages and very elastic. It's what makes it one of the most difficult languages to learn (For every rule there are many exceptions) and what gives it its charm. Almost any word has numerous meanings, so why should this one, English by adoption, be any different?

In the late 60s in Hull we had a barn dance band called 'The Green Ginger Band' Later on in the 70s the band took a very Irish turn when an Irish family became heavily involved and singing became an integrated part of the gig so we became 'The Green Ginger Ceili Band'. We also had another local band 'The White Horse Ceilidh Band' who rarely featured singing. Many of the new bands entering the scene in the 60s and 70s were made up of musicians from the folk clubs who felt the term 'Barn Dance' gave off too much of the old EFDSS dances which to us were stuffy, regimented affairs.