But with few exceptions, when it surfaced at all, it took the form of noisy, nonviolent gatherings.

Completely unknown to Lafayette was Martin Luther King's Knights, more endearingly addressed by their noisy gathering of fans as the Rude Boys.

In lexicography, "Jamboree" is considered an Americanism that traces back to 1860-65 and refers to a joyful, noisy gathering.

When other hotel guests complained about the noisy gathering, Ms. Bruce started clearing the room.

Touching, smiling, talking quietly, Lark worked her way through the noisy gathering, leaving calm in her wake.

Anything, some neighbors said, could set him off - loud music, a barking dog, a noisy gathering of friends.

They cluttered up the streets in noisy gatherings, swearing at passers-by, spitting on them, and sometimes assaulting and robbing them.

Matthias knew the drill; it was surprising how the stone-holder could gain quiet among such a noisy, quarrelsome gathering.

As the noisy gathering shifted here and there, she caught glimpses of the deeply polished wood and the silver handles, and of the tufted satin inside the open lid.

But while the noisy gatherings may seem like any other outdoor event - save the ubiquitous green, white and red flags and the cannoli - their origins are quite different.