charivari
/ˌʃɑːrɪˈvɑːri
/(chiefly US also shivaree)
noun (plural charivaris) chiefly historical
1A cacophonous mock serenade, typically performed by a group of people in derision of an unpopular person or in celebration of a marriage: friends gave them a joyous charivari, with much banging and bell-ringing...
- I am researching all aspects of shivarees, and would be interested in hearing about what people in your area think about the reasons for shivarees, what kinds of things happen or happened at them, and how people react or reacted to them.
- What we need to do is redevelop charivaris, shaming rituals, to show them their behaviour is just not acceptable.
- Deeply influenced by cultural anthropology, they have found in the often surprisingly rich documentation about festivals, processions, charivaris etc.
1.1A series of discordant noises.I've explored before the early modern practice of charivaris, or rough music, but was surprised to read of a late 19th-century example, and in London.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, of unknown origin.