"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
Showing posts with label folderol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folderol. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Gimcrack

 
This is a word that came up in one of our crosswords recently.

A gimcrack is something that is showy but of little use; a decorative object of little value; a trifle; an ornamental object of no great value.

In other words, a gimcrack is a gewgaw or folderol - two more lovely words with the same meaning!