folderol
UK /ˈfɒldəɹəl/ · US /ˈfɔldəɹɔl/ noun
Forms folderols fol-de-rol fol de rol falderal
- noun (uncountable) Nonsense or foolishness.
- noun (countable) A decorative object of little value; a trifle or gewgaw.
Synonyms
fandangle foolishness nonsense bauble gewgaw trifle trinket rubbish tripe trumpery trash wish-wash applesauce codswallop
Etymology
Originally a nonsense refrain in songs, since circa 1701, as "fal, al, deral!", and 1820, used to make the song longer without adding more meaningful content (see non-lexical vocables in music). Compare falleri, fallera, extended as falleralla or fallerallera, in Swedish and German songs.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “folderol”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details