Knickknack
/ˈnɪkˌnæk/noun
A small ornamental trinket or decorative object.
Did you know?“Knickknack” is a reduplicative word, meaning its double form was created for sound and playful effect rather than from a single ancient root, which is why it feels so strangely magical to say.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
knick-knack
“A trifle, toy, or small decorative object; also a jingle-like or showy trinket”
16th–17th Century
English
knick-knackatory / knick-knackery
“Playful or contemptuous extensions referring to trivial objects or showy ornament”
Early Modern English
English
knick
“An echoic element used in playful or figurative formations, not a separate inherited word with a fixed core meaning”
Early Modern English
English
knack
“A special skill, trick, or clever device; also a knack-like knack of sound in playful compounds”
Modern English
English
knickknack
“A small decorative trinket, usually of little practical value”