charivari

[ shiv-uh-ree, shiv-uh-ree, shuh-riv-uh-ree or, especially British, shahr-uh-vahr-ee ]

noun, verb (used with object),plural cha·ri·va·ris,cha·ri·va·ried, cha·ri·va·ri·ing.

a variant of shivaree.

Origin of charivari

<French, Middle French, of obscure origin; said to be <Late Latin carībaria headache <Greek karēbaría, equivalent to karē-, combining form of kárā,kárē head + -baria (bar(ys) heavy + -ia-ia), on the hypothesis that such a noisy procession would cause a headache

Also chivaree, chivari [shiv-uh-ree, shiv-uh-ree] /ˌʃɪv əˈri, ˈʃɪv əˌri/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for charivari

charivari

shivaree or esp US chivaree

/ (ˌʃɑːrɪˈvɑːrɪ) /

noun

a discordant mock serenade to newlyweds, made with pans, kettles, etc
a confused noise; din

Origin of charivari

C17: from French, from Late Latin caribaria headache, from Greek karēbaria, from karē head + barus heavy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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