Meaning
A confused sound of a crowd of people shouting or speaking simultaneously; an uproar.
Etymology
Origin: Celtic languages
In early use, the noun is often mentioned as a cry by Irish people, and so is possibly borrowed from Irish; compare Irish ababú, abú (“used as a battle cry”), and Scottish Gaelic ub, ub, ubub (“used to express contempt, etc.”), ubh ubh (“used to express disgust”). The verb is derived from the noun.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles: