▪ I. rowdy-ˈdow, n.
[Cf. row-de-dow.]
Boisterous noise; uproar. Also attrib. passing into adj. and quasi-adv. So rowdy-dowy a.
| 1852 J. Labern Popular Comic Song Bk. 75 While Spifflicating Charlie Coker and Jane of the Hatchet-face divine, Just did the Rowdydowy Poker. 1935 W. Stevens in Poetry XLV. 245 The heavy bells are tolling rowdy-dow. 1946 Time 22 July 40 This rowdy-dow roundup is the wild-cow milking contest. 1950 N.Y. Times 9 July ii. 1/1 To restore the old rowdy-dow of burlesque, Mr. Mike Todd and Mr. Clark have gathered a handful of authentic drolls. |
▪ II. rowdy-dow, v.
[f. prec.]
intr. To be noisy or boisterous.
| 1966 T. Pynchon Crying of Lot 49 v. 110 She collided with a gang of guided tourists come rowdy-dowing out of a Volkswagen bus. |