American Wake

noun

1. an all-night farewell party for a person about to emigrate to America

Example Sentences

I mean, as you probably know, up to the 1950s, there was this thing called the "American wake."

From Salon

The Iraq war was precisely the reason the United States had such a poor hand to play in Syria, and the American “wake of destruction” set the stage for the Islamic State’s takeover of swaths of Iraq and Syria.

From New York Times

When will American wake up and see that not only is he dismantling Democracy, but also potentially the world.

From New York Times

When will Mr. Average American wake up and see the extent to which he is being ripped off?

From Time Magazine Archive

When they are leaving their native place, the "neighbours" hold an "American wake," and in the morning, with heartrending embraces and wild caioning, give them the last "Bannact Dea Leat"—"God's blessing be on your way"; but when they come to Cove, the sorrow is smothered; they are buoyed up by that trusting faith in the future which is the first fibre in the Irish nature.

From Project Gutenberg