flimsy English · revision 1356

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈflɪmzi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is perhaps an alteration of [[film]] with the letters reversed,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) with an ending like that of [[clumsy]] or ''tricksy''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The American Heritage Dictionary notes that it first appears in a dictionary of thieves' cant and may be linked with [[flimflam]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lacking strength or solidity; slight, frail (1702).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense of something of little value followed in 1735,^(OED 1989) and its use of arguments by the 1750s.^(Etymonline) As a noun, ''flimsy'' meant a banknote in slang (1824)^(OED 1989) and thin paper used for making copies (1814 in Merriam-Webster, 1857 in the OED),^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) and hence a document written on it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1702 – frail, unsubstantial.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1735 – trivial, paltry.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1814 – noun, thin copying paper.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1824 – slang, a banknote.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Light, thin and easily damaged.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Lacking solidity or strength; poorly made.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Weak and unconvincing, as an excuse.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' Thin paper used for making several copies at once, or a document on such paper.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[flimsily]]

+ * [[flimsiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flimflam]]

+ * [[film]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''shoddy'', ''weak'', ''unstable'' and ''unsteady'' as synonyms for the physical sense and ''unconvincing'', ''lame'' and ''vague'' for the figurative sense, with ''sturdy'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}