chantey

noun chan·tey \ ˈshan-tē , ˈchan- \

variants: or chanty or shanty \ˈshan-\

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of chantey

plural chanteys or chanties or shanties

: a song sung by sailors in rhythm with their work

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Recent Examples of chantey from the Web

Sea Music Festival The 39th annual Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport features four days of workshops, concerts, a children’s stage with special performances and demonstrations of maritime work songs – or chanteys – aboard historic vessels.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Things To Do This Week," 4 June 2018
Since 1871, the group has serenaded audiences with folk songs, love songs, show tunes, sea chanteys, and semi-classical music.

— kathy shiels tully, BostonGlobe.com, "A heartfelt version of ‘Calendar Girls’ in Stoneham," 25 May 2018
Join a sea chantey sing along at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. In honor of Earth Day, the Aquarium of the Bay is organizing volunteers to clean the Park’s Aquatic Park beach from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. https://AquaticPark EarthDay2018.eventbrite.com.

— chronicle staff report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Kids events," 12 Apr. 2018
Primarily abandoning the ’80s-style synthesizers that coat much of their new studio material, the Decemberists relied on folk-rock and sea-chantey standbys — as well as the golden throats of prior collaborators Kelly Hogan and Nora O’Connor.

— bob gendron, chicagotribune.com, "Wit and whimsy ever present at Decemberists' Chicago Theatre show," 11 Apr. 2018
The Sea Chanters, the U.S. Navy’s official chorus, is set to perform a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, sea chanteys and patriotic fare to opera, Broadway and contemporary music.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Interfaith's veteran center gets donation ... more community news," 1 Mar. 2018
This particular raging squall, evoked by swaying, chantey-singing performers, is the one that separates the look-alike brother and sister Viola (Emily Young) and Sebastian (Javier Ignacio) and sets into motion a tale of confused identities.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: Finding Serenity in a Tempest-Tossed ‘Twelfth Night’," 14 Dec. 2017
Mount Vernon Nights The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters sing traditional choral music, sea chanteys and Broadway tunes. 6 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center Quad, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton.

— sarah lane, Washington Post, "Going Out Guide for Northern Virginia, June 15-21, 2017," 14 June 2017
The performers’ hearty harmonies and sometimes jaunty, sometimes brooding tunes call to mind everything from sea chanteys to vintage folk to (on one gleefully bristling tune) a bit of Kurt Weill cabaret.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Old Globe's 'Old Man' a soulful, song-ful voyage," 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chantey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.