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clinquant. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
clinquant, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
clinquant in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
clinquant you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From French clinquant, from clinquer (“to clink”), from Dutch klinken (“to sound, ring, clink”), from Middle Dutch clinken, clingen, from Old Dutch *clingan, from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą (“to sound, ring”). Cognate with German klingen (“to sound”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
clinquant (comparative more clinquant, superlative most clinquant)
- Glittery; gleaming; sparkling; dressed in, or overlaid with, tinsel finery.
1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , lines 18–20:Today the French, / All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, / Shone down the English;
Noun
clinquant (uncountable)
- Dutch metal.
- Tinsel; glitter.
1806 [a. 1681], Lucy Hutchinson, Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson, 3rd edition, volume 2, Longman, Hurst, Bees, and Orme, published 1810, page 177:Harrison came that day in a scarlett coate and cloake, both laden with gold and silver lace, and the coate so cover'd with clinquant, that scarcely could one discerne the ground,
1762, George Vertue, Horace Walpole, Some Anecdotes of Painting in England, volume 2, published 1849, page 442:Lely supplied the want of taste with clinquant; his nymphs trail fringes and embroidery through meadows and purling streams.