clinquantadj.n.
/ˈklɪŋkənt/ A. adj.
a. Glittering with gold or silver, and hence with metallic imitations of these; tinselled, ‘dressed in spangles’ (Johnson).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > [adjective] > spangled
marmoratec1537
sparked1552
spangled1584
marbled1598
clinquanta1618
bespangled1634
spankled1777
spangly1818
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. Battail of Yvry in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 1097 Hee doth not nicely prank In clinquant Pomp..But arm'd in Steel.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. i. 19 The French, All Clinquant all in Gold, like Heathen Gods Shone downe the English. View more context for this quotation
1623 J. Fletcher & W. Rowley Maid in Mill v. ii A clinquant petticoat of some rich stuff, To catch the eye.
1640 R. Brome Sparagus Garden iii. v Courtiers Clinquant, and no counterfeit stuffe upon 'hem.
1658 F. Osborne Advice to Son (1673) 200 A gentile Garb and decent Habit: yet..not Clinckant or Rich, since Gold lace, Rings or Jewels, hath not seldom rendred Travellers the prey of Braves and Murderers.
1676 T. Shadwell Virtuoso iii. 39 Fine sparks..very clinquant, slight and bright..make a very pretty show at first; but the Tincel-Gentlemen do so tarnish in the wearing.
1839 Fraser's Mag. 115 In ‘clinquant gold’ the sovereign sun walks round.
b. figurative.
ΚΠ
1613 G. Chapman Memorable Maske Inns of Court sig. C4v Inure thy souldiers to hardnes, tis honorable, though not clinkant.
1682 T. Shadwell Medal of John Bayes Ep. A b He has an easiness in Rime, and a knack at Versifying, and can make a slight thing seem pretty and clinquant.
B. n. [French clinquant was short for or clinquant, and originally meant real gold in leaf or thin plates, used for decorative purposes. Thence it was extended to imitations.]
1. Imitation of gold leaf; tinsel; Dutch gold.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > gilding and silvering > [noun] > gilding > gold leaf or plate > imitation
orseduec1377
clinquant1691
German gold1712
Dutch gilding1760
ormolu1765
similor1778
Dutch foil1815
Dutch gilt1825
Dutch gold1825
Dutch metal1825
mosaic gold1825
Dutch leaf-
1691 J. Ray N. Country Words Clincquant, brass thinly wrought out into leaves.
a1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 65/2 Clinquant, same as yellow copper, Dutch gold.
2. Literary or artistic ‘tinsel’, false glitter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > [noun] > adventitious
incrustation1607
embroidery1640
clinquant1711
frill1893
society > leisure > the arts > the arts in general > [noun] > work of art > qualities generally
decoruma1568
humoura1568
variety1597
strength1608
uniformity1625
barbarity1644
freedom1645
boldness1677
correctness1684
clinquant1711
unity1712
contrast1713
meretriciousness1727
airiness1734
pathos1739
chastity1760
vigour1774
prettyism1789
mannerism1803
serio-comic1805
actuality1812
largeness1824
local colour1829
subjectivitya1834
idealism1841
pastoralism1842
inartisticalitya1849
academicism1852
realism1856
colour contrast1858
crampedness1858
niggling1858
audacity1859
superreality1859
literalism1860
pseudo-classicism1861
sensationalism1862
sensationism1862
chocolate box1865
pseudo-classicality1867
academism1871
actualism1872
academicalism1874
ethos1875
terribilità1877
local colouring1881
neoclassicism1893
mass effect1902
attack1905
verismo1908
kitsch1921
abstraction1923
self-consciousness1932
surreality1936
tension1941
build-up1942
sprezzatura1957
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 5. ¶5 I..agree with Monsieur Boileau, that one Verse in Virgil is worth all the Clincant or Tinsel of Tasso [Fr. le clinquant du Tasse].
1763 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting III. i. 15 Lely supplied the want of taste with clinquant.
1839 Fraser's Mag. 19 65 The worst portion of the silly bits of clinquant strung together, and called gems of beauty.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.n.1613