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kickshaw

noun
kick·​shaw | \ ˈkik-ËŒshȯ How to pronounce kickshaw (audio) \

Definition of kickshaw

1 : a fancy dish : delicacy
2 : trinket, gewgaw
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about kickshaw

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Did You Know?

Kickshaw began its career in the late 16th century as a borrowing from the French quelque chose - literally, "something." In line with the French pronunciation of the day, the "l" was dropped and the word was anglicized as "kickshaws" or "kickshoes." English speakers soon lost all consciousness of the word’s French origin and, by taking "kickshaws" as plural, created the new singular noun "kickshaw."

Examples of kickshaw in a Sentence

a display case in the antiques shop filled with costume jewelry and various kickshaws from the 1920s the company's holiday party always features an array of artfully confected kickshaws

First Known Use of kickshaw

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for kickshaw

by folk etymology from French quelque chose something

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More from Merriam-Webster on kickshaw

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with kickshaw

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for kickshaw

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