English

The cover of the first issue (1841) of the British satirical magazine Punch, or the London Charivari

Alternative forms

• shivaree (US)

Noun

charivari ‎(countable and uncountable, plural charivaris)

1. The noisy banging of pots and pans as a mock serenade to a newly married couple, or similar occasion.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 94:

     The marriage ceremony was given primordial significance over folkloric pre-marriage engagement rituals and wild charvaris.

2. Any loud, cacophonous noise or hubbub.

Related terms

• shivaree

Synonyms

• skimmington

Translations

French

Etymology

From Old French chalivali ‎(“noise from pots and pans”), from Late Latin caribaria, from carivaria, from Ancient Greek καρηβάρεια ‎(karēbáreia, “headache”), from καρη ‎(“head”) + βαρύς ‎(barús, “heavy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃaʁivaʁi/

Noun

charivari m ‎(plural charivaris)

1. charivari, shivaree, mock serenade of discordant noise, notably to heckle a publicly reviled figure
2. A racket, banging in general, rumpus