gewgaw

Meanings

Noun

• A showy trifle, a toy; a showy trinket, ornament or decoration.

Adjective

• Showy; unreal; pretentious.

Related

Similar words

• gewgawish

Origin

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