Fandangle
[fan-DAYN-ɡəl]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Unknown, mid-19th century
1.
A useless or purely ornamental thing.
Examples of Fandangle in a sentence
"I couldn’t resist buying the seashell fandangle at the beachside souvenir store."
"Her wedding dress was covered in bows and lace and fandangles."
About Fandangle
There’s not much use for this type of object, but it sure is pretty. Maybe you have a cabinet full of knickknacks, or your bed is covered with ornamental pillows. Anything with purely decorative potential, but no real use — that’s a "fandangle."
Did you Know?
Fandangle can’t be definitively traced back to a specific root language, but some lexicographers assume it’s related to "fandango." This is the name for a lively Spanish dance accompanied by a tambourine, or the name for an elaborate process or activity. "Fandangle," or "an ornamental object," came about in the mid-19th century, likely related to the second definition of "fandango."
