Meanings
plural charivaris · alternative US shivaree · alternative US chivari · alternative US chivaree
- countableuncountableThe noisy banging of pots and pans as a mock serenade to a newly married couple, or similar occasion.
The marriage ceremony was given primordial significance over folkloric pre-marriage engagement rituals and wild charivaris.
2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 94 - broadlycountableuncountableAny loud, cacophonous noise or hubbub.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna noisy mock serenade (made by banging pans and kettles) to a newly married couple
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchcharivari
- Frenchcharivari
- Englishcharivari
Borrowed from French charivari.
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch ketelmuziek
- ketelmuziekmock serenade
French charivari
- charivarimock serenade
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with charivari
Cite this entry
charivari. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/charivari
“charivari.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/charivari. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “charivari,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/charivari.
Source: charivari on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.