noun
- plural of chivary; a noisy mock serenade or charivari, traditionally performed to ridicule or harass someone, especially a newly married couple or an unpopular person.
Usage: archaic; chiefly historical; also spelled charivari
Examples
- The village organized chivaries to mock the unpopular merchant.
- Medieval chivaries often involved loud noise and public humiliation.
- The newlyweds endured several chivaries from their mischievous neighbors.
- Historical records describe chivaries as a form of community justice.
- Such chivaries were common in rural areas centuries ago.