ramshackle

WOTD - 2 June 2007    

English

Etymology

First attested 1830, back-formation from ramshackled, from ransackled, past participle of ransackle (“to ransack”), frequentative of Middle English ransaken (“to pillage”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: rămʹshăk'əl, IPA: /ˈræmˌʃæk.əl/, SAMPA: /"r{m%S{k.@l/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

ramshackle (comparative more ramshackle, superlative most ramshackle)

1. In disrepair or disorder; poorly maintained; lacking upkeep, usually of buildings or vehicles.

   They stayed in a ramshackle cabin on the beach.

   He entered the ramshackle bus, and was driven a long distance through very sandy streets to the hotel on the St. Lawrence.

Synonyms

• (in disrepair or disorder): bedraggled, broken-down, dilapidated, disorderly, rickety, ruinous, rundown, tatterdemalion, tumbledown

Translations

in disrepair or disorder

Finnish: ränsistynyt (fi) (of building), räjähtänyt (fi) (of vehicle) French: délabré (fr)

German: baufällig (buildings), klapprig Polish: rozpadający się m., rozklekotany m. Portuguese: malcuidado (pt) m., malcuidada (pt) f.