balderdash
/ˈbɔːldə.dæʃ/ noun, verb
Forms balderdashes balderdashing balderdashed
- noun Senseless talk or writing; nonsense.
- noun (archaic) A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.
- noun (obsolete) Obscene language or writing.
- verb (archaic) To mix or adulterate.
Synonyms
bunk drivel folderol piffle poppycock rubbish twaddle absurdity all my eye all my eye and Betty Martin apple grease applesauce bafflegab balls baloney banana oil Bandini baragouin batcrap batshit fiddle-faddle
Etymology
Unknown, possibly from the early English drink of wine mixed with beer or water or other substances that was sold cheaply.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.
- noun Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.
- verb To mix or adulterate, as liquors.
Etymology [Of uncertain origin: cf. Dan. balder noise, clatter, and E. dash; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then hodgepodge, mixture; or W. baldorduss a prattling, baldordd, baldorddi, to prattle.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “balderdash”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details