come-all-ye

American  

[kuhm-awl-yee] / ˈkʌmˌɔlˌyi /

Also come-all-you

noun

1. a street ballad, especially in England.

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come-all-ye British  

/ -jiː, kəˈmɔːljə /

noun

1. a street ballad or folk song

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Etymology

Origin of come-all-ye

First recorded in 1885–90; after the invitation that often forms the opening line of such ballads

Example Sentences

The Open East festival is a come-all-ye event to help get things under way.

From The Guardian • Jul. 27, 2013

Oh, Ward, for heaven's sake don't be singing that come-all-ye at the top of your voice, like that.

From The Ranch at the Wolverine by Bower, B. M.

Mary was sewing beside the stove, and Pat was mumbling over the first verse of a new "come-all-ye."

From The Harbor Master by Roberts, Theodore Goodridge

All the merit I can claim is the ability to rhyme a limerick or sing a "come-all-ye" in a manner perhaps not unpleasing to my friends.

From By Trench and Trail in Song and Story by MacKay, Angus

"You've got a come-all-ye hoorah there that will make votes."

From The Landloper by Day, Holman