noun
gewgaw
Gewgaw (noun) means a flashy, worthless item or plaything; a gaudy trinket, ornament or decorative piece.
noun
1
A flashy, worthless item or plaything; a gaudy trinket, ornament or decorative piece.
"You or I may well view our desire to push buttons and order new electronic gewgaws as the mere reflex spasms of consumerism, but to this dynamic duo the future of the earth depends on our instant gratification more than anything else."
— Will Self, The frowniest spot on Earth (2011)
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Etymology
This word comes from earlier forms gugaw and gygaw, which came from Middle English givegove (“gewgaw, trifle”), a reduplication of Middle English give, geove (“gift”). That in turn goes back to Old English giefu, geofu, geafu (“gift”), from Proto-Germanic *gebō (“gift”). Compare Icelandic gyligjöf (“showy gifts, gewgaw”). See also give.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of gewgaw?
"gewgaw" (noun) means a flashy, worthless item or plaything; a gaudy trinket, ornament or decorative piece.
What is another word for gewgaw?
Other words for "gewgaw" include gaud, trinket, fallal, novelty, bangle, bauble.
