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

Anecdotes of Painting," says, "Lely supplied the want of taste with clinquant; his nymphs trail fringes, and embroidery, through meadows and purling streams.

From The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851 by Various

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

From The Lucasta Poems by Lovelace, Richard

Come here, Stephanie, and see a miracle of manhood, that could resist all the clinquant of a hussar for the simple costume of the � cole Militaire.

From Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume I by Lever, Charles James

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

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

From Trivia by Smith, Logan Pearsall