belling

1 9.9

A noisy, teasing greeting for newly married people that uses banging pans and kettles

noun

Archaic

: belling

As the newlyweds left the church, a loud belling erupted from the guests, who clanged their kitchenware to wish them happiness.

Examples

The sound of belling filled the air as the newly married couple walked through the village, greeted by the cheerful noise of their loved ones.
With the kids jingle-belling

Getaway (2013)
This allows slower rotation of the drill itself and reduces dynamic effects (bowing or "belling") of the rod.

Academic text (2007)
♪♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪♪ ♪♪ With the kids jingle belling ♪♪ ♪♪ And everyone telling you ♪ ♪♪ Be a good cheer ♪ ♪♪

House of Gucci (2021)
They began to protest, to press forward, to drown out Helsse's chimes, only to be brought up short by a great belling sound from the Master.

Fiction book (1993)
On their wedding day, the couple was surprised by a joyful belling from friends and family who banged pots and pans in celebration.

Synonyms

shivaree

vsbelling

Archaic

1 9.9

A noisy celebration where people bang pots and pans for a newly married couple

is more of a mocking serenade rather than a purely celebratory noise

charivari

vsbelling

Archaic

1 9.9

A noisy playful celebration with pots and pans to tease a newly married couple

focuses more on playful mockery than on showing disapproval

Surface Forms

belling singular

bellings plural

Morphology

belling = bell (opaque) = bell + ing

Although the form suggests bell + -ing, the sense of a noisy mocking serenade is a lexicalized and culturally specific meaning that is not directly predictable from the base word.

Etymology

Belling comes from bell, the metal object that rings, and the ending -ing meaning 'the act of'. People would welcome or tease newly married couples by making loud, bell-like noises and banging pots and pans, so belling now means that noisy, often mocking serenade.