gewgaw

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gewgaw

/ˈɡjuːɡɔː/ UK
/ˈɡ(j)uɡɔ/ US
/ˈɡ(j)uɡɑ/ US, cot caught merger

Where it comes from

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.

noun gewgaws · geegaw · gew-gaw · gee-gaw

A showy trifle, a toy; a showy trinket, ornament or decoration. A heavy gewgaw called a crown.

adjective geegaw · gew-gaw · gee-gaw

not comparable Showy; unreal; pretentious. The rattle of a globe to play withal, This gewgaw world, and put him cheaply off;
Similar: gewgawish

Translations

Every language

noun a showy trifle, a toy

Português	badulaque
Français	bibelot
Русский	безделу́шка bezdelúška, безделица bezdelica, побрякушка pobrjakuška, мишура mišura

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MLA

"gewgaw." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/gewgaw. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

gewgaw. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/gewgaw

Chicago

"gewgaw." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/gewgaw.

BibTeX

@misc{gewgaw_2026,
  title = {gewgaw},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/gewgaw},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}