raree show

American  

[rair-ee] / ˈrɛər i /

noun

1. peep show.

2. a carnival or street show; spectacle.

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raree show British  

/ ˈrɛəriː /

noun

1. a street show or carnival

2. another name for peepshow

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Etymology

Origin of raree show

First recorded in 1695–1705; allegedly imitative of a foreign pronunciation of rare show

Example Sentences

"Am I a raree show to be peeped at and watched and spied upon?"

From Black Bartlemy's Treasure by Farnol, Jeffery

Come hither, Topham, come, with a hey, with a hey; Bring a pipe and a drum, with a ho; Where'er about I go, Attend my raree show, With a hey, trany, nony, nony, no.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 07 by Scott, Walter, Sir

After the vice-regal raree show was over, and that the grand folk had been properly bowed into their carriages, and had fairly driven away, there was some diversion to be had.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 09 by Edgeworth, Maria

The anxious reader must not suppose that we were standing all this while, with finger in mouth, idly gaping like children on a raree show.

From The Life of General Francis Marion by Weems, M. L. (Mason Locke)

She wanted to see what sort of raree show an author was; and to let him know, that though Dunbar was but a little town, yet it was not destitute of people of parts.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert