hubbub
UK[ˈhʌbʌb]US[ˈhʌbʌb]
n
a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large crowd of people.
n
a situation of noisy confusion and excitement.
Etymology
the word 'hubbub' is a vivid example of onomatopoeia, entering the english language in the mid-16th century. it is believed to originate from an old irish war cry 'abu!' or the interjection 'ubub', used to express contempt, which was then reduplicated in english to create the echoic, repetitive sound of 'hub-bub'. this formation mimics the chaotic, indistinct roar of a crowd, a common feature in words describing noise across languages. the term's journey reflects how language can create abstract nouns for states of commotion directly from imitative sounds, capturing the essence of tumult through its very phonetic structure.
Analysis
this word is considered a simplex. it is an onomatopoeic reduplication, likely imitating the sound of a crowd's noise. its functional role is as a whole lexical unit.
Examples
a sudden hubbub erupted from the marketplace as the parade approached.
she could hardly hear the announcement over the hubbub of the busy airport terminal.
the teacher raised his voice to make himself heard above the classroom hubbub.