charivari

[ shiv-uh-ree, shiv-uh-ree, shuh-riv-uh-ree or, esp. British, shahr-uh-vahr-ee ]
/ ˌʃɪv əˈri, ˈʃɪv əˌri, ʃəˌrɪv əˈri or, esp. British, ˌʃɑr əˈvɑr i /

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

Also chivaree, chivari.

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

Example sentences from the Web for charivari

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

Word Origin for charivari

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