tatterara

English

Alternative forms

• tattarara, tatarara

Etymology

From Irish tatarara.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tætəˈɹɑːɹɑː/
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): [tæt̪əˈɹɑːɹɑː]

Noun

tatterara (plural not attested)

1. (Ireland, dated) commotion, noise; fuss, bother
   • 1852, M.G. Robinson, The life and adventures of James Kelly O'Dwyer, volume II, London: Richard Bentley, page 307:

     In the midst of our fun, a tremendous tatterara of the dining-room bell struck upon our hearts.
     " That is Sir Charles himself," cried Jones ; " I know his impatient ring."

   • 1976 The Recorder (American Irish Historical Society) Vol.37, p.37:

     Thus it was in Belfast, where a publisher invited the most terrible tatterara in the Spring of 1976 by publishing a very slim volume, "Best Belfast Jokes" under the rather original imprint Minnie-Ha-Ha Press.

   • 1991 Bryan MacMahon [translation from the Irish of Peig Sayers] Peig: The Autobiography of Peig Sayers of the Great Blasket Island →ISBN (Syracuse University Press), p.58:

     Very soon I heard the tatterara coming up the road. 'They're coming!' I said and I was all agog.