gewgaw

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.4 Adjective 1.4.1 Synonyms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Origin uncertain; perhaps related to Old French gogue ‘game’, or from English gaw.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈgju:gɔ:/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

gewgaw (plural gewgaws)

1. A showy trifle, a toy; a showy ornament or decoration.
   • 1883, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Doctor Grimshawe's Secret, ch. 15,

     It was a Saxon ornament. . . . Some Puritan, before his departure, may have thought himself doing God service by filching the old golden gewgaw.

[edit] Adjective

gewgaw (not comparable)

1. Showy; unreal; pretentious.
   • 1855, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Maud; A Monodrama, X, stanza 1,

     Seeing his gewgaw castle shine,

     New as his title, built last year.

[edit] Synonyms

• gewgawish