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
Words nearby charivari
charites,
charity,
charity begins at home,
charity commissioners,
charity school,
charivari,
chark,
charkha,
charlady,
charlatan,
charlatanism
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