katzenjammer

[ kat-suhn-jam-er ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the discomfort and illness experienced as the aftereffects of excessive drinking; hangover.
uneasiness; anguish; distress.
uproar; clamor:
His speech produced a public katzenjammer.

katzenjammer

/ ˈkætsənˌdʒæmə /

noun

a confused uproar
a hangover

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Word History and Origins

Origin of katzenjammer¹

From German: “hangover,” literally, “wailing of cats,” equivalent to Katzen (plural of Katze cat ( def ) ) + Jammer “discomfort,” Old High German jāmar (noun and adjective) “misery; sad”; yammer; katzenjammer def 1 was first recorded in 1840–50; and katzenjammer defs 2 and katzenjammer none 3 in 1895–1900

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Word History and Origins

Origin of katzenjammer¹

German, literally: hangover, from Katzen cats + jammer misery, wailing

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Example Sentences

This battle between them is just like three Katzenjammer Kids.

From The Daily Beast

"I am ashamed to say the Katzenjammer Kids in the comic supplement put it in my head," blushed Annie.

From Project Gutenberg

In a German work on pharmacy I find that it is recommended in catarrh of the stomach and for "Katzenjammer."

From Project Gutenberg

Next day they suffer from Katzenjammer, but feel that they are upholding ancient tradition.

From Project Gutenberg

Still, I continued as of old, and thought nothing of it except as the regular katzenjammer—to be expected.

From Project Gutenberg

Also, the normal state of Melancholy is such that even a case of Katzenjammer merely blends in with the surrounding Drabness.

From Project Gutenberg

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