gimcrack, gincrack

& a. [Prob. from Prov. Eng. gim =spruce, and crack =a lively boy.] A. As substantive: *1. A spruce, pert boy; a dandy; a coxcomb. "These are fine gimcracks ; hey, here comes another, A flagon full of wine in his hand I take it." Beaum. & Flet.: Loyal Subject , iv. 3. 2. A trivial, worthle , though showy piece of mechanism; a pretty but usele toy. "Rifled all his pokes and fobs Of gimcracks , whims, and jiggumbobs." Butler: Hudibras, pt. iii., c. i. B. As adj.: Showy but worthle . gim-lět, gimb-lět, s. [O. Fr. gimbelet, guim D. As substantive: "These corrupted men Have for the gilt of France (O guilt indeed), Confirmed conspiracy with fearful France. Shakesp.: Henry V., ii. (Chorus.) 3. Fair or grand show. "When thou wast in thy gilt , and thy perfume, they mocked thee." -Shakesp .: Timon of Athens , iv. 3. gilt-edge, gilt-edged, adj. [English gilt, and edge(d).] I. Lit .: Having a gilded edge; as, a gilt - edged book. II. Fig .: Of unquestioned reliability; choice; first-cla : used of commercial paper; as, a gilt edged note. ( U.S. Colloq .)