town crier

noun

1. (formerly) a person employed by a town to make public announcements or proclamations, usually by shouting in the streets.

town crier

noun

1. (formerly) a person employed by a town to make public announcements in the streets

Word History and Origins

Origin of town crier¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

Finally, the Bidens ended up at Nantucket’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, clapping as the town crier led the countdown and the tree was illuminated with colored lights.

From Seattle Times

Seven years ago I profiled him in a column that said that due to rising temperatures, his glacier project had turned him into a sort of “town crier of decline.”

From Seattle Times

The day begins with an old-fashioned parade, complete with a town crier.

From Seattle Times

Avedon wanted not only to detect the pulse, with a physician’s intimate solicitude, but also to amplify and announce it, like a town crier.

From Washington Post

A more ominous sound that echoed in his memory was that of the town crier, beating a drum in 1939 to announce that France was at war with Germany.

From Washington Post