Gimcrack
/ˈdʒɪm.kræk/noun
A showy but flimsy or worthless object; something gaudy and cheaply decorative.
Did you know?Gimcrack is a 17th-century English word of uncertain origin, probably built to sound comically flashy and flimsy, which is exactly the vibe it still carries today.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
gimcrack
“A trinket, gewgaw, or showy but worthless thing”
17th Century
English
gimcracky
“Gaudy, flimsy, or cheaply ornamental”
Modern English
English
gimcrack
“Showy but worthless; a flimsy decorative object”
Modern English
English
gimcrackery
“Cheap or tawdry ornamentation”