trumpery

  • 1Trumpery — Trump er*y, n. [F. tromperie deceit, fr. tromper to deceive. See {Trump} to trick.] 1. Deceit; fraud. [Obs.] Grenewey. [1913 Webster] 2. Something serving to deceive by false show or pretense; falsehood; deceit; worthless but showy matter; hence …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Trumpery — Trump er*y, a. Worthless or deceptive in character. A trumpery little ring. Thackeray. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3trumpery — index deception, falsification Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4trumpery — mid 15c., deceit, trickery, from M.Fr. tromperie (14c.), from tromper to deceive, of uncertain origin. Spelling influenced by trump (v.). Meaning showy but worthless finery is first recorded c.1600 …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5trumpery — [trump′ər ē] n. pl. trumperies [ME trompery < MFr tromperie < tromper, to deceive, cheat < ? tromper, to play the trumpet: see TRUMP2] 1. something showy but worthless 2. nonsense; rubbish adj. showy but worthless; trashy; paltry …

    English World dictionary

  • 6trumpery — noun Etymology: Middle English (Scots) trompery deceit, from Middle French, from tromper to deceive Date: 15th century 1. a. worthless nonsense b. trivial or useless articles ; junk < a wagon loaded with household trumpery Washington Irving > 2.&#8230; …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 7trumpery —    An obsolete term that was formerly applied to women as a vocative, in the sense of ‘trash, rubbish’. Goldsmith’s The Vicar of Wakefield has: ‘Out, I say…tramp, thou infamous strumpet What! you trumpery, to come and take up an honest house&#8230; …

    A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • 8trumpery — n. & adj. n. (pl. ies) 1 a worthless finery. b a worthless article. 2 rubbish. adj. 1 showy but worthless (trumpery jewels). 2 delusive, shallow (trumpery arguments). Etymology: ME f. OF tromperie f. tromper deceive …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9trumpery — /trum peuh ree/, n., pl. trumperies, adj. n. 1. something without use or value; rubbish; trash; worthless stuff. 2. nonsense; twaddle: His usual conversation is pure trumpery. 3. Archaic. worthless finery. adj. 4. of little or no value; trifling …

    Universalium

  • 10trumpery — 1. noun a) worthless finery; bric a brac or junk b) nonsense 2. adjective gaudy but of no …

    Wiktionary