amarugian n, adj, freq cap Also anaroogian, anarugeon, an(n)arugian Also sp amaroogian, amarugeon, amerugian [Etym unknown] Cf Amarugia n, antiques and horribles n pl, callithumpian adj, fantastic n, hoojin n, Kickapoojian n
A grotesquely costumed participant in a shivaree n B1 or similar rowdy amusement; a member of a burlesque organization devoted to such amusement; composed of or pertaining to such persons; an uncouth, peculiar, or rowdy person.
1856 Hall College Words 10 cKY, At Centre College, Kentucky, is a society called the Annarugians, “composed,” says a correspondent, “of the wildest of the College boys, who, in the most fantastic disguises, are always on hand when a wedding is to take place, and join in a most tremendous Charivari.” 1869 Harper’s New Mth. Mag. 38.720, The local editor of a very far West journal having attended a ball on the frontier, has felt moved, after the manner of the Jenkins of the metropolitan press, to furnish a report of some of the dresses worn by the more eminent persons present. Thus: Miss A. was everlastingly scrumptious, in an under-skirt of red calico, flounced with blue mousline, surmounted by an over-skirt of linsey looped in the rear en saddlebag. . . Waist à la anarugeon. 1870 Nowland Early Indianapolis 100 cIN (as of 1820s), While the Legislature was in session, he conceived the idea of serenading its members. There was a society, of which he was the head and master spirit. This organization Mr. Cox named the “Indianapolis Anarugian Society.” They numbered about thirty persons, and their object was fun or amusement, in any shape whatever not injurious to the public. One Pete Harmon was the proprietor of . . two log-sleds. . . [A] platform was built on them to accommodate the whole society, who were dressed in all kinds of fantastic style that fancy or convenience might dictate, and with everything conceivable that would make a loud and disagreeable noise—strings of tin cups, horns, cow-bells, drums, tin pans and kettles. 1879 Hist. Fulton Co. IL 970, Near the center of the township [=Young Hickory] is the spot where in early days some of the settlers would congregate for sport. . . Some of them would take a little too much bourbon, and appeared very ridiculous . . , which on one occasion brought forth the following remark from one of the old settlers: “They look more like Amarugians than anything else.” The people took up the name and christened the place Amarugia, by which that vicinity is known even to this day. [DARE Ed: The area was first settled c1830.] 1883 Santa Fé New Mexican Rev. 15 July [4]/1 (newspaperarchive.com), Bishop Fitzgerrell, of the Amarugian church, made many new converts to his faith in Santa Fe yesterday. The leading principles of belief are, hate snakes and love women. 1900 Kokomo Daily Tribune (IN) 9 Mar 4/4, The employes of the Thalman & Levi establishment gave a masquerade social. . . The characters represented were as follows: . . Frank Crick—The Amarugian. 1901 Mather My Angling Friends 61, Once he [=“Ned Buntline”] said to me: “I had been writing for weeks and had become tired. There was no company there in the woods in the winter except Alvah Dunning and other amaroogians.” 1906 Kinsley Graphic (KS) 13 July 3/3, [List of events of Fourth of July celebration in Cadiz OH:] The Amarugian parade of 200 teams and horseback riders, displaying some very novel and amusing costumes. 1912 DN 3.570 wIN, Anaroogian. . . A very rural old fellow. “The old anaroogian never comes to town except upon election day.” 1930 Corona Daily Independent (CA) 23 Sept 1/1, For some reason or other, of which we are unaware, some cock-eyed amaroogian mails us a copy of this magazine titled “Alimony.” 1972 Times–Reporter (Dover–New Philadelphia OH) 23 Nov sec A 3/3 ceOH (as of 1895), Mrs. Gartrell has in her possession a framed broadside advertising the first Leesville Street Fair which was held on Oct. 18, 1895, and featured the Bowerston Band and an Amarugeon Parade. 1983 DARE File cwIL, I have not heard the word “amerugian” used lately . . in this community [Fulton Co.]. I remember my wife’s folks used it quite often . . as a term of mild reproach for their children, after they had been in mischief. . . “You little Amerugian.”