different between gewgaw vs folderol

English

Alternative forms

• geegaw
• gew-gaw

Etymology

From earlier gugaw, gygaw, from Middle English givegove (“gewgaw, trifle”), a reduplication of Middle English give, geove (“gift”), from Old English giefu, geofu, geafu (“gift”), from Proto-Germanic *geb? (“gift”). Compare Icelandic gyligjöf (“showy gifts, gewgaw”). More at give.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??ju????/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??u??/
  • (US) (cot-caught merger)

Noun

gewgaw (plural gewgaws)

1. A showy trifle, a toy; a showy trinket, ornament or decoration. [from 15th c.]

   • A heavy gewgaw called a crown.

   • 1951, Isaac Asimov, Foundation (1974 Panther Books Ltd publication), part V: “The Merchant Princes”, chapter 11, page 163, ¶¶ 2–4:

     “I am not of the neighbourhood,” said Mallow, calmly, “but the matter is irrelevant. I have had the honour to send you a little gift yesterday?——” [¶] The tech-man’s nose lifted. “I received it. An interesting gewgaw. I may have use for it on occasion.” [¶] I have other and more interesting gifts. Quite out of the gewgaw stage.”

   • 2011, Will Self, "The frowniest spot on Earth", London Review of Books, XXXIII.9:

     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.

Translations

Adjective

gewgaw (not comparable)

1. Showy; unreal; pretentious.
   • 1678, Dryden, John, All for Love, Scene II,

     The rattle of a globe to play withal,

     This gewgaw world, and put him cheaply off;

   • 1855, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Maud; A Monodrama, X, stanza 1,

     Seeing his gewgaw castle shine,

     New as his title, built last year.

Synonyms

• gewgawish

Derived terms

• Jew's harp (possibly)

English

Alternative forms

• fol-de-rol, fol de rol, falderal

Etymology

Originally a nonsense refrain in several old songs, used to make the song longer without adding more meaningful matter.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?f?ld???l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?f?ld???l/

Noun

folderol (countable and uncountable, plural folderols)

1. (uncountable) Nonsense or foolishness.
   • 1985, John Fante, The Road to Los Angeles:

     [The librarian] rang the bell at nine. I hurried over to Philosophy and grabbed anything. It was another Nietzsche: Man and Superman. I knew that would get her. Before stamping it, she flipped a few pages.
     "My!" she said. "What books you read!"
     I said, "Haw. That's nothing. I never read folderol."
     She smiled good night.

   • 1992, Donald L. Hoffman, Mark's Merlin: Magic vs. Technology in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Sally K. Slocum (editor), Popular Arthurian Traditions, Bowling Green State University Popular Press, page 52,

     In this confrontation with the magic of science and the magic of folderol, it is almost impossible not to side with the magic of folderol, and the silly, but relatively benign, Merlin.

   • 2009, Todd Farley, Making the Grades: My Misadventures in the Standardized Testing Industry, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, page 48,

     “To say the essay has 'development of ideas' is absolute folderol.”

     “I beg your pardon?” Maria asked.

     “Folly,” he explained pedantically. “Poppycock. Gibberish.”

     “I know what folderol means,” Maria said. “I just think you better watch what you say.”

2. (countable) A decorative object of little value; a trifle or gewgaw.
   • 1922, Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt, B. Tauchnitz, page 215,

     And they made a mistake there: the prizes were a lot of folderols and doodads like poetry books and illustrated Testaments, instead of something a real live kid would want to work for, like real cash or a speedometer for his motor cycle.

   • 2000, Linda Shertzer, Cassie's Fortune, Jove Books, page 32,

     He didn't share Miss Flora's penchant for collecting gaudy, useless knickknacks, and wouldn't have bought any of those foolish, foreign fandangles and folderols if he did have the money to waste.

   • 2008, G. K. Sutton, The Witherspoon Legacy, Xlibris, page 86,

     “I notice you're not keen on folderols.”

     “Folderols?” Amanda echoed uncomprehendingly.

     “My grandmother's term for decorative items, pictures, knick-knacks,” Connor's hand swept the room.

Synonyms

• (nonsense): fandangle, foolishness, nonsense
  • See also Thesaurus:nonsense
• (decorative object): bauble, fandangle, gewgaw, trifle, trinket

See also

• frippery