katzenjammer

US: (kat′sən jam′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

katz•en•jam•mer  (kat′sən jam′ər), n. 

1. the discomfort and illness experienced as the aftereffects of excessive drinking;
   hangover.
2. uneasiness;
   anguish;
   distress.
3. uproar;
   clamor:
   His speech produced a public katzenjammer.

• German, equivalent. to Katzen (plural of Katze cat¹) + Jammer discomfort, Old High German jāmar (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival); compare yammer
• 1840–50