congoing

Blend of convention +‎ going.

congoing (uncountable)

1. (fandom slang) The action or hobby of attending a convention.
   • 1959, Richard "Dick" Harris Eney, Fancyclopedia II‎, Whitcon:

     The gathering (brainstormed by John Newman) that marked the postwar revival of congoing in England.

   • 1998 July 16, Andre Lieven, “Re: Why cons SHOULD NOT cost so much”, in alt.fandom.cons‎ (Usenet), message-ID <6ol962$1t0@freenet-news.carleton.ca>:

     Over that time, the demographic of congoing has evolved, and many longer running cons have had to adapt.

   • 2005 December, Joseph T. Major, “The Fanivore”, in File 770‎, number 146, page 25:

     The rest of it is very good and I wish I had had something of the sort available when I started congoing thirty years ago... ulp.

• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2024), “congoing n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

congoing

1. Alternative form of congaing
   • 2001, Doodlebug, →ISBN, page 304:

     He screams, and they all join hands to hips and congo line around the cabin. As they are congoing, Moose puts his keys on a shelf that is located downstage left.

   • 2004, Cass Pennant, Rob Silvester, Rolling with the 6.57 Crew, →ISBN:

     If you can picture the scene: you've got people behind the bar breaking into where the spirits are, handing out free spirits and fags; you've got somebody else in the DJ bit handing out George Michael CDs to people, just pinging them around; you've got other people tipping the fruit machines, handing out 50p pieces left, right and centre; and the rest of them are all congoing and singing, jumping all over the cushions and chairs.