Uproar Has Nothing to Do With Roaring
An uproar is a noisy disturbance. The word came from Dutch and meant an uprising, and English reshaped it by mistaking the second half for roar.
An uproar is a loud noisy disturbance. The word came from Dutch *oproer*, an uprising or revolt, built from *op*, up, and *roer*, motion — nothing to do with noise at all. English speakers heard the second syllable as *roar*, and the meaning shifted from rebellion to racket. It is a textbook case of folk etymology reshaping a word.
- A noisy disturbance. *The announcement caused an uproar.*
- Loud protest. *Uproar in the chamber.*
- Uproarious — very noisy, or hilarious. *Uproarious laughter.*
- In an uproar — in a state of commotion. *The whole town was in an uproar.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | uproar | A public uproar. |
| Adjective | uproarious | Uproarious scenes. |
| Adverb | uproariously | Laughed uproariously. |
| Dutch source | oproer | An uprising. |
| Unrelated | roar | A lion's roar. |
- The decision caused an uproar.Public reaction.
- There was uproar in the chamber.Parliament.
- The audience was uproarious.The adjective can mean hilarious.
Folk etymology reshaping words
- Uproar — Dutch *oproer*, reshaped by hearing *roar*
- Crayfish — French *crevice*, reshaped by hearing *fish*
- Sparrowgrass — an old folk form of asparagus
- Hangnail — from Old English *angnail*, a painful nail, not from hanging
- Bridegroom — from *guma*, a man, misheard as *groom*
Dutch *oproer*, a revolt, from *op*, up, and *roer*, stirring. English borrowed it in the 1520s, probably through Tyndale's Bible translation, and reinterpreted the ending.
Is uproar related to roar?
No. The second half comes from a Dutch word meaning stirring or motion. English speakers reinterpreted it as roar.
What is folk etymology?
When speakers reshape an unfamiliar word to resemble familiar ones. Crayfish and hangnail were altered the same way.