ramshackle

English

WOTD – 2 June 2007

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^(key): /ˈræmˌʃæk.əl/

• 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.
   • Thackeray

     There came […] my lord the cardinal, in his ramshackle coach.

   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.

   • 2012 September 7, Dominic Fifield, “England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova”, The Guardian:

     So ramshackle was the locals' attempt at defence that, with energetic wingers pouring into the space behind panicked full-backs and centre-halves dizzied by England's movement, it was cruel to behold at times. The contest did not extend beyond the half-hour mark.

Synonyms

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

Translations

in disrepair or disorder

• Dutch: bouwvallig (of buildings), gammel (nl)
• Finnish: ränsistynyt (of building), räjähtänyt (of vehicle)
• French: délabré (fr)

• German: baufällig (buildings), klapprig (de)
• Polish: rozpadający się m, rozklekotany m
• Portuguese: malcuidado