22 September 2017
gimcrack
[jim-krak]
noun
1. a showy, useless trifle; gewgaw.
adjective
2. showy but useless.
Origin of gimcrack
Middle English Old French
1325-1375 for earlier sense; Middle English gib(e)crake; compare Middle English gibben to waver (< Old French giber to shake)
Synonyms
1. bauble, knickknack, trinket, ornament.
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for gimcrack
Historical Examples
I will buy her the necklace she scolded me about at Lacy and gimcrack ‘s; it’s just the sum.
The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 2, January, 1851
Various
A nice set you must be to give your gimcrack craft such a name as that!
Fitz the Filibuster
George Manville Fenn
The Gothic souls find fault with it, and say it is gimcrack and tawdry and cheap.
Aaron’s Rod
D. H. Lawrence
Anagram
mag crick
Today’s quote
Peace begins with a smile.
– Mother Teresa
On this day
22 September 1913 – execution by hanging of Ernest Austin at Boggo Road Gaol. Austin was the last man to be legally executed in Queensland. He had been convicted of the rape and murder of 12 year old Ivy Mitchell at Cedar Creek Road near Samford. Austin is buried in South Brisbane Cemetry. It is said that his ghost haunts Boggo Road Gaol. Queensland abolished the death penalty in 1922, becoming the first Australian state to do so.
22 September 1957 – birth of Nick Cave in Warracknabeal, Victoria (Australia). Australian gothic/alternative musician. Frontman of ‘The Birthday Party’ and ‘Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’, also having a successful solo career. In 2006, he formed ‘Grinderman’, an alternative rock band which disbanded in 2011.
22 September 2890 – birth of Bilbo Baggins, Hobbit, born in the Shire. Star of the iconic novel, ‘The Hobbit‘, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo also features in Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings‘. Note, his birthday is in the year 2890 in the Third Age or in the year 1290 in Shire-Reckoning). There is some disparity between Shire-Reckoning and the Gregorian calendar. Some believe that 12 September is the comparative Gregorian date, others believe 14 September is the Gregorian date to celebrate Bilbo’s birthday, as explained in one of the appendices to Lord of the Rings.
22 September 2968 – birth of Frodo Baggins, Hobbit, born in the shire. Nephew of legendary hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, with whom he shares his birthday. Star of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings‘. His birthday is in the year 2968 in the Third Age, or in the year 1368 in Shire-Reckoning). As Bilbo celebrated his eleventy-first (111th) birthday, Frodo was celebrating his 33rd birthday, which is the age at which a hobbit legally comes of age.