I. ˈfərbəˌlō, ˈfə̄b-, ˈfəib- noun
( -s )
Etymology: by folk etymology from French dialect farbella, ferbela
1.
a. : a pleated or gathered piece of material : ruffle ; specifically : a flounce on women's clothing
your slip … uncluttered by the conventional furbelows of women's dresses — Lois Long
b. : something that resembles or suggests a furbelow especially in being showy or superfluous
its plate glass and the intricate furbelows of its facade testified to suddenly acquired money — Jean Stafford
dealt with … all phases and facets and furbelows of our literary effort — Harvey Breit
2. dialect England : a sea tangle ( Laminaria bulbosa )
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to trim with or as if with a furbelow
it is the same old capitalist dog furbelowed in bright nationalist ribbons — John Gunther