Gewgaw meaning

jē'-, gē'-
A decorative trinket; a bauble.
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Something showy but useless and of little value; trinket.
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Showy but useless.
adjective
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A showy trifle, a toy; a showy trinket, ornament or decoration. [from 15th c.]
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Origin of gewgaw

  • Middle English giuegaue
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From earlier gugaw, gygaw, from Middle English givegove (“gewgaw, trifle”), a reduplication of Middle English give, geove (“gift”), from Old English giefu, geofu, geafu (“gift”), from Proto-Germanic *gebō (“gift”). Compare Icelandic gyligjöf (“showy gifts, gewgaw”). More at give.
    From Wiktionary