trumpery

English

Etymology

French tromperie (“deceit”)

Noun

trumpery (plural trumperies)

1. worthless finery; bric-a-brac or junk
   • 1610, The Tempest, by Shakespeare, act 4 scene 1

     (Prospero, to Ariel)

     This was well done, my bird.

     Thy shape invisible retain thou still:

     The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither

     For stale to catch these thieves.

2. nonsense
   • South

     Upon the coming of Christ, very much, though not all, of this idolatrous trumpery and superstition was driven out of the world.

3. (obsolete) deceit; fraud

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Grenewey to this entry?)

Translations

worthless finery; bric-a-brac or junk

• Russian: броские дешёвые украшения (bróskije dešévyje ukrašénija)pl, безделушки (ru) (bezdelúški) pl

Adjective

trumpery (not comparable)

1. gaudy but of no value
   • 1954, Anthony Buckeridge, According to Jennings

     “Of all the trumpery moonshine!” Mr Wilkins exploded. “What do you think you're playing at, Jennings!”