noisemaker

plural noisemakers

1. A person or device that produces a great deal of noise, especially one used in a celebration or sporting event.

   The noisemakers spread from soccer to the N.B.A. and other sports.

   2014 June 13, Daniel Engber, “Who Made That Inflatable Noisemaker?”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 16 Mar 2022

   2 more examples

   Women will gather at Filenes with pots and pans as noise-makers and march to Deak-Perera, a firm which sells the South African gold coin.

   1985 June 4, Stephanie Poggi, “Women Against Apartheid”, in Gay Community News, page 2

   Before long, the unsuspecting salesman was earnestly pitching him "the quietest noisemaker on the market."

   1999 April 5, William Safire, “Essay; The Quiet Noisemaker”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 14 Sep 2017

2. A device comprising a handle with a ratchet at one end, with the ratchet end contained within a box that serves as an echo chamber, so that swinging or moving the device causes the ratchet to rotate within the box, creating a series of loud clicking sounds

   Synonyms: ratchet