释义 |
▪ I. fal-lal, n. and a.|ˌfælˈlæl, fæˈlæl| Also fallol. [One of the many reduplicating formations expressing the notion of something trivial or gaudy; cf. knick-knack, gew-gaw. The suggestion may have been given by falbala.] A. n. 1. a. A piece of finery or frippery, a showy adornment in dress. Chiefly pl.
a1706Evelyn (Fairholt), His dress has bows and fine fal⁓lalls. 1718S. Centlivre Bold Stroke for Wife II, And thou do'st really think those Fallals becometh thee? 1775T. Sheridan Art Reading 88 One of their painted Courtezans, adorned with fripperies and fallals. 1816Scott Old Mort. xxxix, It was an idle fancy..to dress the honest auld man in thae expensive fal-lalls that he ne'er wore in his life. 1861Sala Dutch Pict. viii. 121 New bonnets..and similar feminine fallals. b. fig.
1957Technology Mar. 3/4 Some people may find it rather odd, in a journal professedly devoted to training and education for industry, to come across film reviews, music notices and such fal-lals. 2. dial. Affectation in manner, fussy show of politeness.
1879G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., ‘I canna believe a word 'e says 'e's so much fallal about 'im.’ 1887S. Cheshire Gloss., ‘He's too much fallol about him to pleease me.’ 3. = fa-la.
1864Reader 17 Sept. 364 The slow dance with its ‘fal-lal’ burthen. B. adj. a. Affected, finicking, foppish.
1748Richardson Clarissa I. xlii. 291 Humouring his old fal-lal taste. 1768F. Burney Early Diary 17 July, I was so sick of the ceremony and fuss of these fall lall people! 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxv, Your cockups and your fallal duds. 1830H. Lee Mem. Manager II. vi. 9 Are no lacqueys kept to administer to idle caprices? To run on fal lal messages, or carry complimentary cards, parrots or lapdogs? 1847A. & H. Mayhew Greatest Plague vii. 87 Lo and behold! my neat, unpretending chrysalis had changed into a flaunting fal-lal butterfly. †b. absol. to be a little upon the fal-lal: to border on the affected.
1754Richardson Grandison V. xvi, The lady is a little upon the fallal. ▪ II. fal-lal, v. [f. fal-lal n.] intr. To behave or dress in an affected or finicking manner; to idle, dally, procrastinate.
1854A. E. Barker Gloss. Northants. I. 219 Fallals, flaunting finery. It is also used participially to a female dressed out beyond her station. ‘See how she's fallal'd out.’ 1857Trollope Three Clerks II. iv. 72 She can't go on fal-lalling with you, and then nothing to come of it. 1864― Small House at Allington II. xvi. 161 If I was to be fal-lalling with that married woman, you wouldn't like it. 1866― Last Chron. Barset I. xxvi. 233 My wife can do very well without you fal-lalling here all day. |