tintamarre /tin-tə-MAR/. noun. Generally, an uproar, a din, a hubbub…a clamor. Also a community parade filled with noise and noisemakers. From French tintamarre, from Middle French tinter (to ring), from Latin tinitare (to ring frequently), which is a frequentative/repetitive form of tinnire (to ring).
“He learn’d and profited much by that hurly-burly or tintimarre.” (Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio)
“I was president of the August 15 Committee in Edmunston the year they decided to hold the Acadian Tintamarre parade. I spent half my time arguing you do the Tintamarre on foot, not in cars.” (Frances Daigle)
“I did guess, by such a tintamarre, and cough, and sneeze, and groan, among de spirit one other night here, dat there might be treasure and bullion hereabout.” (Sir Walter Scott)
“A tintamarre of voices and a jingle of glasses accompanied the violins and tambours de Basque as the company stood up and sang the song, winding up with a grand burst at the chorus…” (William Kirby)
Select Synonyms: cavalcade, retinue, procession, cortège.
Elsewhere: Wordnik.