krewe
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of krewe
Archaizing or fanciful spelling of crew 1; generalized from the Mistick Krewe of Comus, the first such club, founded in New Orleans in 1857
Explanation
A group that organizes Mardi Gras celebrations is known as a krewe. Most of the people tossing colorful beads into the crowd at a Mardi Gras parade are members of a krewe. Historians believe that the original Carnival krewe, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, invented the term in 1856 to describe their group in a way that was deliberately old-fashioned. Most cities and towns with French Catholic heritage that celebrate Mardi Gras have their own network of krewes, though New Orleans has the largest and oldest krewe system. Members of these clubs pay dues to pay for costumes and parade floats, and they inaugurate annual kings and queens.
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.
The current Phellows first assembled in 1981, a rebirth of a satirical Carnival krewe that took to the streets in 1878 and ceased parading in 1898, according to history provided by the group.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024
The krewe members wear meticulous costumes emblazoned with hundreds of beans.
From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2023
Marching bands and floats passed us, krewe members tossing MoonPies, beads, Mardi Gras doubloons and other treats to outstretched hands.
From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2022
Muses founder Staci Rosenberg said the krewe had planned to gather at a bar a couple of blocks off the streetcar route to await the passing of the Phunny Phorty Phellows' procession.
From Fox News • Jan. 6, 2022
Parish officials and krewe leaders have plenty of other possibilities to consider.
From Washington Times • Dec. 23, 2020
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.
