kermis

noun

ker·​mis ˈkər-məs 

variants or kermess

ˈkər-məs 

-ˌmes

or kermesse

ˈkər-məs 

-ˌmes

1

: an outdoor festival of the Low Countries

2

: a fair held usually for charitable purposes

Word History

Etymology

Dutch kermis, from Middle Dutch kercmisse, from kerc, kerke church + misse mass, church festival

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1