noun Chiefly Northeastern U.S. 2.Midwestern U.S.. Also called callithump parade. a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Origin: 1855–60, Americanism; compare earlier
callithumpian band assembly of noisemakers on New Year's Eve,
British dialect gallithumpians disturbers of order at Parliamentary elections, probably equivalent to dial.
gally to frighten (as in
gallicrow scarecrow; akin to
Old English agælwan to scare) +
thump +
-ian Related forms cal·li·thump·i·an, adjective, noun