gimcrack

[prettygoodword]

gimcrack (JIM-krak) - n., a cheap and showy object of little or no use. adj., Cheap and tasteless, gaudy.


Strong connotation of shoddy make as well as cheap. Compare gewgaw, kickshaw, knickknack, tchotchke, bauble, and trinket. In this form since the 17th century, alteration of earlier gibcrake/gibecrake, first appearing in the 14th century, of unknown origin.

---L.

Comments

[flwyd]

I had not previously considered the meaning of Blue Tail Fly, but "Gimcrack corn and I don't care" is an interesting interpretation.