Hallabaloo

/ˌhæl.əˈbæ.luː/ noun

Definition

A loud noise, commotion, or fuss about something; variant spelling of hullabaloo meaning excitement or uproar.

Etymology

Variant of 'hullabaloo,' a word of unknown origin that appeared in English in the 1700s, possibly from a Scots or Irish source, perhaps imitating the sound of noise itself.

Kelly Says

No one knows exactly where 'hullabaloo' came from—it's one of English's great etymological mysteries, but linguists think it might be onomatopoeia, literally made up to sound like a noisy crowd!

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