Chä-rĭ-va-rĭ, n.

(shä-rē'/va-ree'), n. [Fr.; O. Fr. caribari, chalivari, calivali, chalivali, Pr. caravil, L. Lat. charivarium, charavarium, charavaria, charavallium, ch. libaricum, ch. libaritum, Ger. krawall.] A mock serenade of discordant music, kettles, tin horns, &c., designed to annoy and insult.

☞ It was at first directed against widows who married a second time, at an advanced age, but is now extended to other occasions of nocturnal annoyance and insult.