corroboree

American  

[kuh-rob-uh-ree] / kəˈrɒb ə ri /

Or corrobboree

noun

Australian.

1. an assembly of Aboriginal people typified by singing and dancing, sometimes associated with traditional sacred rites.

2. a social gathering, especially of a boisterous nature.

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corroboree British  

/ kəˈrɒbərɪ /

noun

1. a native assembly of sacred, festive, or warlike character

2. informal any noisy gathering

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Etymology

Origin of corroboree

First recorded in 1793, corroboree is from the Dharuk word ga-ra-ba-ra “dance”

Example Sentences

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

The steamer was made—for the corroboree, I mean—of logs with mud layered over them, painted up, a hollow log for a funnel in the middle.

From The Euahlayi Tribe; a study of aboriginal life in Australia by Parker, K. Langloh (Katie Langloh)

The weather was close, and being satisfied, and, for once, frugal, George cooked the two remaining fish, and swathing them neatly in fresh green leaves, sauntered away, cooing a corroboree of content.

From My Tropic Isle by Banfield, E. J. (Edmund James)