FRIPPERY


Meaning of FRIPPERY in English

I. ˈfrip(ə)rē, -ri noun

( -es )

Etymology: Middle French friperie rags, old clothes, from Old French freperie, from frepe, ferpe, feupe rag, old garment (from Medieval Latin faluppa piece of straw, splinter) + -erie -ery

1. obsolete

a. : castoff clothes

b. : a place where old clothes are sold

2.

a. : a piece of finery : finery ; especially : a showy nonessential article of dress that may be cheap and tawdry, excessively detailed and ornamented, or elegant and rich

the fripperies of her elegant bonnet trembling — Arnold Bennett

b. : affected elegance : ostentation

II. adjective

: trifling , contemptible

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.