clinquant

American  

[kling-kuhnt] / ˈklɪŋ kənt /

adjective

1. glittering, especially with tinsel; decked with garish finery.

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noun

1. imitation gold leaf; tinsel; false glitter.

clinquant British  

/ ˈklɪŋkənt /

adjective

1. glittering, esp with tinsel

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noun

1. tinsel or imitation gold leaf

Etymology

Origin of clinquant

1585–95; < Middle French: clinking, present participle of clinquer (< Dutch klinken to sound); see -ant

Example Sentences

The General and the generals went in and crowded the hall of audience, very clinquant with its black and white floor, glass chandeliers, long mirrors and single gilded center table.

From The Surrender of Santiago An Account of the Historic Surrender of Santiago to General Shafter, July 17, 1898 by Norris, Frank

My eyes rejoice in the shine of it; its clinquant sound is music in my ears.

From Trivia by Smith, Logan Pearsall

To-day the French, All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, Shone down the English; and, to-morrow, they Made Britain India: every man that stood Show'd like a mine.

From King Henry VIII by Shakespeare, William

Descartes has almost entirely discarded this quaintness, which sometimes passed into what is called in French clinquant, that is to say, tawdry and grotesque ornament.

From A Short History of French Literature by Saintsbury, George

She that a clinquant outside doth adore, Dotes on a gilded statue and no more.

From The Lucasta Poems by Lovelace, Richard