Gaudy definition
And then, there he was, slim and handsome, and dressed the gaudiest and prettiest you ever saw...
An example of something that might be described as gaudy is a large tiara completely covered in big fake diamonds.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Adjective
Origin of gaudy
- Middle English gaudi, gaud prank, trick possibly from Old French gaudie merriment (from gaudir to enjoy, make merry) (from Latin gaudēre to rejoice) and from Latin gaudium enjoyment, merry-making (from gaudēre to rejoice gāu- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Possibly from gaudy (influenced by gaud)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- A common claim that the word derives from Antoni Gaudí, designer of Barcelona's Sagrada Família Basilica, is not supported by evidence (the word was in use at least half a century before Gaudí was born).
From Wiktionary
- Origin uncertain; perhaps from gaud (“ornament, trinket”), itself perhaps from Old French gaudir (“to rejoice”).
From Wiktionary
- From Latin gaudium "joy".
From Wiktionary