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

While his predecessors have at least made a pretence of calling for quality over quantity, he espouses a come-all-ye approach.

From The Guardian

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

From The Guardian

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 Project Gutenberg

To the amazement of Ruth and the others it was a real Irish “come-all-ye,” and although the words might not have been altogether well-chosen, they were funny.

From Project Gutenberg

“Great Scott, Jack, where did you pick up that old come-all-ye?”

From Project Gutenberg