furbelow

American  

[fur-buh-loh] / ˈfɜr bəˌloʊ /

noun

1. a ruffle or flounce, as on a woman's skirt or petticoat.

2. any bit of showy trimming or finery.

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verb (used with object)

1. to ornament with or as if with furbelows.

furbelow British  

/ ˈfɜːbɪˌləʊ /

noun

1. a flounce, ruffle, or other ornamental trim

2. (often plural) showy ornamentation

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verb

1. (tr) to put a furbelow on (a garment)

Other Word Forms

• unfurbelowed adjective

Etymology

Origin of furbelow

First recorded in 1670–80; variant of falbala

Example Sentences

In dress, the stress is on flair and fabric, not feather and furbelow.

From Time Magazine Archive

They were going to bare their shoulders, drape themselves in extravagant yards of rich cloth and go out on the town festooned with about every feminine furbelow short of a bone in the nose.

From Time Magazine Archive

Boston ladies, their skirts all passe- mentarie and furbelow, India silk and jaconet, crowded the chambers, swiveling their hoops and panniers like dames on clocks to navigate the doors.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

He has made no attempt to furbelow our finances.

From The Masques of Ottawa by Bridle, Augustus

I invited that furbelow widow to stay on purpose to spare me this almost t�te-�-t�te meeting.

From The Vicar of Wrexhill by Trollope, Mrs

Related Words

• color
• design
• finery
• ornament
• plaque
• ribbon
• trinket
• wreath