English Explanatory Dictionary

bric-a-brac

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Small ornaments and other miscellaneous display items of little value.
  2. Any collection containing a variety of miscellaneous items; a hodgepodge, an olio.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɹɪkəbɹæk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-bric-a-brac.wav /ˈbɹɪkəˌbɹæk/

Word forms

bric-a-brac bricabrac bric-à-brac brick-a-brack

Etymology

Borrowed from French bric-à-brac (“miscellaneous items of little value”), apparently from à bricq et à bracq (“at random; haphazardly”); bricq and bracq are expressive onomatopoeias of obscure origin.

Synonyms

brickety-brack knick-knacks novelty toy bauble novelty bric-a-brac fandangle fangle fizgig folderol gewgaw kickshaw knick-knack mathom tat tchotchke trangam trinket whim-wham mishmash oddments curios ornaments baubles bouillabaisse catch-all clamjamfrey cocktail rummage anthology gallery congeries crazyquilt disjecta membra farrago galimatias gallimaufry grab bag hodgepodge horse and rabbit stew hotchpotch hotchpot job lot jumble macedoine medley melange mingle-mangle miscellanea miscellany mixed bag mixture motley odds and ends olio olla podrida omnium-gatherum pastiche patchwork quilt potpourri

Antonyms

valuables treasures

Related words

novelty toy

Derived words

bric-a-bracker bric-a-brackery bric-a-bracquerie brickety-brack
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