kickshaw \KIK-sha(w)\ (noun) - 1 : A cheap, showy
object of no value, a trinket, a bauble, a gewgaw, geegaw, or gimcrack; 2 : a
fancy food item.
"Although she often came to work in various kickshaws from the shopping channel, Meghan was nobody's office kickshaw when it came to business."
There is a whole tray of silly words in English for "a showy trinket." "Gewgaw" and "geegaw" both come from Middle English "give-gave." "Gimcrack" probably came from older gim "smart, stylish," possibly a variant of Scottish jimp "slender, graceful," plus "crack," perhaps in the adjectival sense of "sharp, excellent" in such phrases as "a crack marching band." Today's word reflects the work of folk etymology on the French phrase quelque chose "something" from quelque "some" + que "what, which, who" + chose "thing." In the 16th century, we adapted the meaning of "quelque chose" and by the 17th, it was being spelled "quelkchose," "kickshoes," "quick-shaws," and "kickchose." By the 18th century "kickshaw" had settled in and remained with us until today.
"Although she often came to work in various kickshaws from the shopping channel, Meghan was nobody's office kickshaw when it came to business."
There is a whole tray of silly words in English for "a showy trinket." "Gewgaw" and "geegaw" both come from Middle English "give-gave." "Gimcrack" probably came from older gim "smart, stylish," possibly a variant of Scottish jimp "slender, graceful," plus "crack," perhaps in the adjectival sense of "sharp, excellent" in such phrases as "a crack marching band." Today's word reflects the work of folk etymology on the French phrase quelque chose "something" from quelque "some" + que "what, which, who" + chose "thing." In the 16th century, we adapted the meaning of "quelque chose" and by the 17th, it was being spelled "quelkchose," "kickshoes," "quick-shaws," and "kickchose." By the 18th century "kickshaw" had settled in and remained with us until today.
Charles Mims
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