flummery

[ fluhm-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural flum·mer·ies.

1. oatmeal or flour boiled with water until thick.
2. fruit custard or blancmange usually thickened with cornstarch.
3. any of various dishes made of flour, milk, eggs, sugar, etc.
4. complete nonsense; foolish humbug.

flummery

/ ˈflʌmərɪ /

noun

1. informal.
   meaningless flattery; nonsense
2. a cold pudding of oatmeal, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of flummery¹

1615–25; < Welsh llymru, with ending assimilated to -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of flummery¹

C17: from Welsh llymru

Example Sentences

Oh, but surely if we have to call ourselves Wurzel-Flummery it would count as earned income.

From Project Gutenberg

The condition is that with this money—fifty thousand pounds—I take the name of—ah—Wurzel-Flummery.

From Project Gutenberg

My dear Mr. Crawshaw, you didn't think—you didn't really think that anybody had been called Wurzel-Flummery before?

From Project Gutenberg

The Flummery boys and ever so many more of the party are at the front with their regiments.

From Project Gutenberg

Money was squandered on useless court-flummery while men were toiling sixteen hours a day for bread.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• levity