Come talk about fun and quirky words in the English Language. Posting is open to all members.
Flummery
Aside from being fun to say, this word has a fun etymology and evocative imagery.
The definition of this word that is most common in American English is meaningless flattery, nonsense. This definition is an evolution of the original a starch-based sweet soft dessert pudding known to have been popular in Britain and Ireland from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Knowing the original adds imagery to the more modern definition. Flummery might make you feel good at first, but may also leave you feeling bloated and empty.
The word itself is one of our few Welsh loanwords in English. The corresponding Welsh word was lymrig meaning soft, or slippery.





I love learning random words like these. Although receiving a definition I will probably use this for fun. "What flummery"
Glad it's one you like!
This is neat--you're right, it makes the concept of flummery more--tactile? Something.
Also, I feel like we need a whole post on weird British dessert names. I'm sensing a Friday post in this...
I do love the puffed-up-but-useless imagery. Thanks for the history!