callithump

American  

[kal-uh-thuhmp] / ˈkæl əˌθʌmp /

Or callathump

noun

Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

1. a shivaree.

2. Also called callithump parade.  Midwestern U.S. a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Other Word Forms

• callithumpian adjective

Etymology

Origin of callithump

1855–60, compare earlier callithumpian band assembly of noisemakers on New Year's Eve, British dialect gallithumpians disturbers of order at Parliamentary elections, probably equivalent to dial. gally to frighten (as in gallicrow scarecrow; akin to Old English agælwan to scare) + thump + -ian

Explanation

There ought to be a word for a noisy parade full of people playing instruments with no rhyme or reason. Hey, guess what? There is a word for that: callithump! Back in 19th-century America, before iPads and reality TV, people entertained themselves by throwing parades that were intentionally noisy, with instruments like tin kettles and rattles. The bands that played were called callithumpian, and their parades were called callithumps. Why not break out the pots and pans and revive this all-American tradition?

Example Sentences

The great quadrennial callithump of politics, American style, is under way.

From Time Magazine Archive

I have the greatest respect for honorable toil, but even more for callithump.

From Dwellers in Arcady The Story of an Abandoned Farm by Fogarty, Thomas

I became acquainted with callithump when I straightened out the asparagus-bed.

From Dwellers in Arcady The Story of an Abandoned Farm by Fogarty, Thomas

You probably don't know what callithump is, but you will find out if you undertake to hoe sod-ground potatoes in July.

From Dwellers in Arcady The Story of an Abandoned Farm by Fogarty, Thomas

By the time I had pulled half-way down one row I could feel the callithump working.

From Dwellers in Arcady The Story of an Abandoned Farm by Fogarty, Thomas