hubbub English · revision 1892

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhʌbʌb/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) it is probably Irish.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It may be related to [[gd|ub]], ''ubub'', a Gaelic interjection of aversion or contempt,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) or to ''abu'', an ancient Irish war cry.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The confused shouting of a crowd, especially a war cry or hue and cry (1555, as ''whobub'').^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The AHD notes that the word first appeared in the phrase ''Irish hubbub''^(AHD) and suggests that its borrowing may reflect English contempt for the Celtic peoples.^(AHD) By 1619 it meant noisy turmoil or a disturbance,^(OED 1989) and by 1779 the milder sense of the mingled din of a crowd of speakers.^(OED 1989) The New England colonists also used it as the name of a noisy game played by Native Americans (1634).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1555 – ''whobub'', confused shouting.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1619 – turmoil, confusion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1634 – a Native American game.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1779 – the din of many voices.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A loud, confused noise, as of many voices; a [[din]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Confusion; [[tumult]] or [[uproar]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hullabaloo]]

+ * [[din]]

+ * [[uproar]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}