jamboree

pronunciation

How to pronounce jamboree in British English: UK [ˌdʒæmbəˈri:]word uk audio image

How to pronounce jamboree in American English: US [ˌdʒæmbəˈri] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a gay festivity

Word Origin

jamboree (n.)
1866, represented as typical of American English, perhaps from jam (n.) on pattern of shivaree [Barnhart]. For the second element, Weekley suggests French bourree, a kind of rustic dance. Klein thinks the whole thing is of Hindu origin (but he credits its introduction to English, mistakenly, to Kipling). Boy Scouts use is from 1920. Noted earlier as a term in cribbage: Jamboree signifies the combination of the five highest cards, as, for example, the two Bowers [jacks], Ace, King, and Queen of trumps in one hand, which entitles the holder to count sixteen points. The holder of such a hand, simply announces the fact, as no play is necessary; but should he play the hand as a Jambone, he can count only eight points, whereas he could count sixteen if he played it, or announced it as a Jamboree. ["The American Hoyle," New York, 1864]

Example

1. So why did he ask 38 african heads of state and government to a jamboree in nice this week ?
2. The limited nature of the jamboree reflects two aspects of contemporary italy that are likely to have an impact on its affairs in 2011 .
3. It was also a big high-school football night , the jamboree games , which kick off the season .
4. The olympics have probably gone past the point of no return , but staging another sporting jamboree so soon , when money is so tight , may look like a luxury too far .
5. The agricultural jamboree , intended to spread innovation among farmers , could no longer meet its & pound ; 3 00000 ( $ 480000 ) costs .

more: >How to Use "jamboree" with Example Sentences