doggerel

[ daw-ger-uhl, dog-er- ]

adjective

1. (of verse)
   1. comic or burlesque, and usually loose or irregular in measure.
   2. rude; crude; poor.

noun

1. doggerel verse.

doggerel

/ ˈdɒɡərəl; ˈdɒɡrəl /

noun

1. 1. comic verse, usually irregular in measure
   2. ( as modifier )

      a doggerel rhythm

2. nonsense; drivel

Word History and Origins

Origin of doggerel¹

1350–1400; Middle English; dog, -rel; dog Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of doggerel¹

C14 dogerel worthless, perhaps from dogge dog

Example Sentences

In the words of the old doggerel: The rain it falls alike, On the just and unjust fella.

From The Daily Beast

Some scornful commentator has called this doggerel; but I would that all doggerel were as interesting.

From Project Gutenberg

The old words which Burns's songs superseded were wretched doggerel; not such were the ancient Greek heroic lays.

From Project Gutenberg

On the left wall, as one faces the choir, is a curious doggerel inscription to one Busbie.

From Project Gutenberg

He seems to have spent the greater part of his useless life in composing doggerel verses which he addressed to his sisters.

From Project Gutenberg

The Atlantic cable was a theme of inspiration for innumerable sermons and a prodigious quantity of doggerel.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cadence
• poem
• poetry
• rhythm
• tune
• verse