charivari
pronunciation
How to pronounce charivari in British English:
UK [ˌʃɪvə'ri:]
How to pronounce charivari in American English:
US [ˌʃɪvə'ri]
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- Noun:
- a noisy mock serenade (made by banging pans and kettles) to a newly married couple
Word Origin
- charivari (n.)
- "rough music," especially as a community way of expressing disapproval of a marriage match, 1735, from French charivari, from Old French chalivali "discordant noise made by pots and pans" (14c.), from Late Latin caribaria "a severe headache," from Greek karebaria "headache," from kare "head" + barys "heavy," from PIE root *gwere- (2) "heavy" (see grave (adj.)).