hoot(e)nanny | hootananny, n.

While I'm familiar with the word, I was not aware that it is included in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which is basically the dictionary of all dictionaries. The definition, as well as the history of its use (the best part about the OED), is as follows. Be sure to notice Lady Bird Johnson's quote.

hoot(e)nanny | hootananny, n.

Pronunciation:/ˈhuːt(ə)nænɪ/

Etymology:Origin unknown.

orig. U.S. dial.

 1. A ‘thingumajig’.

 2. An informal session or concert of folk music and singing. Alsotransf.

1929 Amer. Speech 5 151Hootananny, the same as gadget.

1940 Washington (Seattle) New Dealer 25 July 4 (advt.)The New Dealer's Midsummer Hootenanny. You Might Even Be Surprised!

1959 Times 10 Jan. 7/6All over the British Isles today at ceilidhes, hootennanys and similar gatherings in pubs, clubs and private houses, folk music is flourishing as it has not done for over a century.

1962 W. Schirra in Into Orbit 31Don't worry about it. That's just the hootenanny valve on the watchamacallit fluttering a little.

1963 Daily Mail 11 Sept. 8/4Hootenanny.‥is to the folk singer what a jam session is to the jazzman.

1964 Radio Times 5 Mar. 25/1The Hoot'nanny Show.

1964 Punch 2 Sept. 348/1A report of one of the side-shows in the psychiatrists' hootenanny held in London last week.

1964 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 13 Jan. (1970) 44,I love folk music, but the name ‘Hootenanny’ rather repels me.

1972 Time 5 June 4/2Memorial Day: a three day national hootenanny.

This arrived in my inbox today as the OED's Word of the Day. I highly recommend visiting The OED website and signing up.