corroboree
Americannoun
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an assembly of Aboriginal people typified by singing and dancing, sometimes associated with traditional sacred rites.
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a social gathering, especially of a boisterous nature.
noun
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a native assembly of sacred, festive, or warlike character
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informal any noisy gathering
Etymology
Origin of corroboree
First recorded in 1793, corroboree is from the Dharuk word ga-ra-ba-ra “dance”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Australia, the tiny black-and-yellow Southern corroboree frog was nearly pushed to extinction by the fungus.
From National Geographic
It shows in her laughter, a corroboree of chuckles, whinnies and convulsions.
From Time Magazine Archive
The word corroboree is applied equally to the dance, the whole festival, or the actual chant which accompanies the dancing.
From Spinifex and Sand by Carnegie, David Wynford
"I suppose we can come and see your corroboree, if we like, Dugingi?" asked John.
From Fern Vale (Volume 1) or the Queensland Squatter by Munro, Colin
I asked, and was told that "'Jimmy' mak'm good fellow corroboree."
From Tropic Days by Banfield, E. J. (Edmund James)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
