Raucous
/ˈrɔː.kəs/noun
Characterized by loud and harsh sounds; boisterous.
Did you know?The term 'raucous' originally described the harsh sounds made by certain birds, linking it to the feral side of nature and chaos.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
raucus
“Hoarse, harsh, or grating in sound.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
raucōsus
“Full of hoarse sounds or noises.”
16th Century
English
raucous
“Adopted into English to describe harsh or discordant sounds.”
Modern English
English
raucous
“Used to denote loud, boisterous behavior, especially in a party or gathering context.”
Explore more surprising origins