ackamarackus
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Pseudo-Latin, possibly coined by Damon Runyan.
Pronunciation
[edit]- Rhymes: -ækəs
Noun
[edit]ackamarackus (uncountable)
- (informal) Meaningless activity engaged in just for show; deceptive nonsense.
- 1947, Emanuel W. Robson, Mary Major Robson, The world is my cinema, page 109:
- This story of coal miners (John Wayne and Randolph Scott) who become coal-owners and rivals for the affections of La Dietrich is the purest and oldest ackamarackus.
- 2012, Thomas D. Bryson, The Psychotic Preschoolers, →ISBN, page 81:
- His beady noggin had visions of floggens as he zeroed in on the new ackamarackus.
- 2014, Paul Christopher Johnson, Spirited Things, →ISBN, page 136:
- Does the radio priest want to make a killing and leave town before his ministrations are revealed as ackamarackus?
Usage notes
[edit]Typically used in the phrase "the old ackamarackus".