flimsyadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈflɪmzi/, U.S.

/ˈflɪmzi/

Forms: Also 1700s flimsey, flimzy.

Etymology: First recorded in 18th cent.; possibly (as Todd conjectured) an onomatopoeic formation suggested by film n. For the ending compare tipsy, bumpsy; also limpsy, given by Webster as a U.S. synonym of flimsy.

A. adj.

a. In physical sense: Destitute of strength or solidity; easily destroyed; slight, frail, unsubstantial.

ΘΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > weakness > [adjective]

tender?c1225

feeble1340

infirmc1374

slight1393

weakc1400

sperec1440

silly1587

unsound1590

immaterial1609

paper1615

unsubstantiala1617

reedy1628

slighty1662

insufficient1700

flimsy1702

bandbox1727

unconfirmed1752

insubstantial1767

gossamery1790

thread-paper1803

gossamer1806

slimsy1845

unendurable1879

bandboxy1891

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > slight > slight or insubstantial

leanc1325

light1534

rushy1579

slight1585

smattering1589

exile1610

unmassy1665

insubstantial1767

flimsy1780

tenuousa1817

unsubstantial1825

gaseous1846

slimline1973

lite1986

1702 in J. Kersey New Eng. Dict.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Flimsy, limber, slight.

1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. iv. 141 The flesh [of the ostrich] is hard, black, and flimsy.

1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 495 Spun as fine As bloated spiders draw the flimsy line.

1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab v. 60 To screen With flimsy veil of justice..Its unattractive lineaments.

1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. iv. 64 There..comes a day when the roused publick indignation kicks their flimsy edifice down.

1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 133 The jewels have remained after the flimsy embroidery..has fallen into decay.

†b. Of persons or their constitutions: Frail, ‘delicate’. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution

neshOE

tender?c1225

softa1387

delicatea1398

nicec1450

slendera1500

weak?1523

dainty1562

fine1562

cockney1573

weakly1577

dough-baked1592

lax1732

flimsy1742

lax-fibred1762

doughy1763

dauncy1846

fragile1858

slim1877

chétif1908

1742 H. Walpole Let. 7 Jan. in Lett. to H. Mann (1833) I. 63 I have a very flimsy constitution.

1763 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 24 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) VI. 2558 I have not yet quite got over my last violent attack, and am weak and flimsy.

a. In immaterial sense: Destitute of solid value, slight, trivial, paltry.

ΘΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > small or trifling in amount or degree

eathlyc890

littleOE

slender1530

foolish1533

triflinga1538

paltry1565

puny?1594

mean1599

minikin1617

unconsiderable1643

inconsiderable1648

punctilio1660

sneaking1703

insignificant1748

flimsy1756

peppercornish1762

peppercorn1791

microscopic1798

pindling1861

midget1879

diddly1893

scroddyc1909

chickenshit1934

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless

naughteOE

unworthc960

nought worthOE

unworthya1240

vaina1300

lewd1362

base?1510

to be nothing toc1520

stark naught1528

nothing worth1535

worthilessa1542

draffish1543

baggage1548

dunghill?1555

valureless1563

toyish1572

worthless1573

out (forth) of door (also doors)1574

leaden1577

riff-raff1577

drafty1582

fecklessc1586

dudgeon?1589

nought-worth1589

tenpenny1592

wanwordy?a1595

shotten herring1598

nugatory1603

unvalued1604

priceless1614

unvaluable1615

valuelessa1616

waste1616

trashya1620

draffy1624

stramineous1624

invaluable1640

roly-poly?1645

nugatorious1646

perquisquilian1647

niffling1649

lazy1671

wanworth1724

little wortha1754

flimsy1756

waff1788

null1790

nothingy1801

nothingly1802

twopenny-halfpenny1809

not worth a flaw1810

garbage1817

peanut1836

duffing1839

trash1843

no-account1845

no-count1851

punky1859

rummagy1872

junky1880

skilligalee1883

footle1894

punk1896

wherry-go-nimble1901

junk1908

rinky-dink1913

schlock1916

tripe1927

duff1938

chickenshit1940

sheg-up1941

expendable1942

(strictly) for the birds1943

tripey1955

schlocky1960

naff1964

dipshit1968

cack1978

1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 94 Proud of a vast Extent of flimzy lines.]

1756 J. Warton Ess. on Pope I. iii. 201 Walsh was in general a flimzy and frigid writer.

1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 201 However flimsey this title..may appear at this distance to us.

1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. 109 The perverse and flimsy style of verbal disputation which had infected all learning.

1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 80 This flimsy hypocrisy, by which he..sought to pass himself off as the victim of others' injustice.

1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope vii. 171 A flimsy hypothesis learnt from Bolingbroke.

absolute.1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. v. 96 Choosing the flimsy before the substantial.

b. With reference to mental or moral attributes: Frivolous, trifling, superficial.

ΘΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > insubstantial

thin?c1225

lighta1413

superficiala1425

sleevelessc1450

frivolous1549

frothy1593

windy1593

shallow1594

airy1600

ghostlessa1603

sleazy1648

tenuious1656

wishy-washy1693

gauzy1774

lathery1803

wish-washy1814

tenuousa1817

toy1821

flimsy1827

airy-fairy1857

facile1857

feeblish1882

popcorn1973

1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. xiii. 305 But it was thine, flimsy villain, to execute the device which a bolder genius planned.

1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. II. ix. 195 Poor, flimsy, witty, wise, foolish..Horace Walpole.

1853 T. T. Lynch Lect. Self-improvem. iii. 66 The flimsy individual who has read fifty novels in a year, but nothing else.

B. n.

1. slang. A bank-note; also, paper-money.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > paper money > [noun] > a banknote

bank bill1682

bill1682

note1695

money bill1713

banknote1759

post-note1788

screen1789

stiff1823

flimsy1824

shin-plaster1824

billet1837

pennif1862

toadskin1867

currency note1891

dead president1944

1824 J. Badcock Boxiana IV. 443 Martin produced some ‘flimsies,’ and said he would fight on Tuesday next.

1842 R. H. Barham Merchant of Venice in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 47 English Exchequer-bills..the right sort of ‘flimsy,’ all sign'd by Monteagle.

1845 A. Smith Fortunes Scattergood Family II. xiii. 195 I'll stand a five-pun' flimsy for the piece.

2. A flimsy or thin kind of paper: esp. that used by reporters for the purpose of multiplying copies; hence, reporters' ‘copy’. Also, a sheet of thin paper, esp. that used on a typewriter for taking carbon copies; a document on thin paper. Also attributive.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > printing > paper > [noun] > thin paper for carbon copies

flimsy1857

society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > copy

flimsy1857

copy1886

society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [noun] > paper for making copies

flimsy1857

manifold1897

1857 J. E. Ritchie Night Side of London 202 The reporters—or, rather, the penny-a-liners—who write on ‘flimsey’, and leave ‘copy’ on spec. at all the daily paper offices.

1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock (1861) 30 Sub-editors are now hard at work cutting down ‘flimsy’.

1872 W. Besant & J. Rice Ready-money Mortiboy II. viii. 126 I'm afraid I shan't have enough flimsy.

1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 44 Flimsy, thin paper, such as..telegraph forms.

1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 13 Apr. 6/3 The Post Office telegraph ‘flimsy’ messages..are now to be multiplied by means of the typewriter.

1909 Daily Chron. 10 Mar. 7/6 He had sent to the defendants ‘flimsies’ of the original reports.

1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle i. 1 I had just finished breakfast..when I got Bullivant's telegram... I flung him the flimsy with the blue strip pasted down on it.

1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 50 Flimsy, an officer's report at the end of a commission or when leaving a man-of-war.

1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xiv. 175 She dragged the cover off the typewriter..shook the top sheet, carbons, and flimsies together as a terrier shakes a rat.

1952 M. Tripp Faith is Windsock vi. 95 Craig scrambled among his flimsies and maps.

1952 M. Tripp Faith is Windsock xi. 163 Wafer-like sheets of paper with transparent celluloid covering, known as flimsies, were distributed by the bombing leader.

1958 M. Dickens Man Overboard xiii. 193 The character references supplied by the Flimsies of his Confidential Reports.

1960 ‘N. Shute’ Trustee from Toolroom iii. 47 ‘I told you that I had an answer to that cable...’ He passed the flimsy to Keith.

Derivatives

ˈflimsy v. (transitive) to write on ‘flimsy’.

ΘΠ

society > communication > writing > manner of writing > [verb (transitive)] > write on specific material

flimsy1886

1886 Daily News 17 July Had the questions to be copied out?—Yes; and the answers to be flimsied.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	flimsy
释义	flimsyadj.n. Brit. /ˈflɪmzi/, U.S. /ˈflɪmzi/ Forms: Also 1700s flimsey, flimzy. Etymology: First recorded in 18th cent.; possibly (as Todd conjectured) an onomatopoeic formation suggested by film n. For the ending compare tipsy, bumpsy; also limpsy, given by Webster as a U.S. synonym of flimsy. A. adj. 1. a. In physical sense: Destitute of strength or solidity; easily destroyed; slight, frail, unsubstantial. ΘΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > weakness > [adjective] tender?c1225 feeble1340 infirmc1374 slight1393 weakc1400 sperec1440 silly1587 unsound1590 immaterial1609 paper1615 unsubstantiala1617 reedy1628 slighty1662 insufficient1700 flimsy1702 bandbox1727 unconfirmed1752 insubstantial1767 gossamery1790 thread-paper1803 gossamer1806 slimsy1845 unendurable1879 bandboxy1891 the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > slight > slight or insubstantial leanc1325 light1534 rushy1579 slight1585 smattering1589 exile1610 unmassy1665 insubstantial1767 flimsy1780 tenuousa1817 unsubstantial1825 gaseous1846 slimline1973 lite1986 1702 in J. Kersey New Eng. Dict. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Flimsy, limber, slight. 1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. iv. 141 The flesh [of the ostrich] is hard, black, and flimsy. 1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 495 Spun as fine As bloated spiders draw the flimsy line. 1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab v. 60 To screen With flimsy veil of justice..Its unattractive lineaments. 1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. iv. 64 There..comes a day when the roused publick indignation kicks their flimsy edifice down. 1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 133 The jewels have remained after the flimsy embroidery..has fallen into decay. †b. Of persons or their constitutions: Frail, ‘delicate’. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution neshOE tender?c1225 softa1387 delicatea1398 nicec1450 slendera1500 weak?1523 dainty1562 fine1562 cockney1573 weakly1577 dough-baked1592 lax1732 flimsy1742 lax-fibred1762 doughy1763 dauncy1846 fragile1858 slim1877 chétif1908 1742 H. Walpole Let. 7 Jan. in Lett. to H. Mann (1833) I. 63 I have a very flimsy constitution. 1763 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 24 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) VI. 2558 I have not yet quite got over my last violent attack, and am weak and flimsy. 2. a. In immaterial sense: Destitute of solid value, slight, trivial, paltry. ΘΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > small or trifling in amount or degree eathlyc890 littleOE slender1530 foolish1533 triflinga1538 paltry1565 puny?1594 mean1599 minikin1617 unconsiderable1643 inconsiderable1648 punctilio1660 sneaking1703 insignificant1748 flimsy1756 peppercornish1762 peppercorn1791 microscopic1798 pindling1861 midget1879 diddly1893 scroddyc1909 chickenshit1934 the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless naughteOE unworthc960 nought worthOE unworthya1240 vaina1300 lewd1362 base?1510 to be nothing toc1520 stark naught1528 nothing worth1535 worthilessa1542 draffish1543 baggage1548 dunghill?1555 valureless1563 toyish1572 worthless1573 out (forth) of door (also doors)1574 leaden1577 riff-raff1577 drafty1582 fecklessc1586 dudgeon?1589 nought-worth1589 tenpenny1592 wanwordy?a1595 shotten herring1598 nugatory1603 unvalued1604 priceless1614 unvaluable1615 valuelessa1616 waste1616 trashya1620 draffy1624 stramineous1624 invaluable1640 roly-poly?1645 nugatorious1646 perquisquilian1647 niffling1649 lazy1671 wanworth1724 little wortha1754 flimsy1756 waff1788 null1790 nothingy1801 nothingly1802 twopenny-halfpenny1809 not worth a flaw1810 garbage1817 peanut1836 duffing1839 trash1843 no-account1845 no-count1851 punky1859 rummagy1872 junky1880 skilligalee1883 footle1894 punk1896 wherry-go-nimble1901 junk1908 rinky-dink1913 schlock1916 tripe1927 duff1938 chickenshit1940 sheg-up1941 expendable1942 (strictly) for the birds1943 tripey1955 schlocky1960 naff1964 dipshit1968 cack1978 1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 94 Proud of a vast Extent of flimzy lines.] 1756 J. Warton Ess. on Pope I. iii. 201 Walsh was in general a flimzy and frigid writer. 1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 201 However flimsey this title..may appear at this distance to us. 1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. 109 The perverse and flimsy style of verbal disputation which had infected all learning. 1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 80 This flimsy hypocrisy, by which he..sought to pass himself off as the victim of others' injustice. 1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope vii. 171 A flimsy hypothesis learnt from Bolingbroke. absolute.1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. v. 96 Choosing the flimsy before the substantial. b. With reference to mental or moral attributes: Frivolous, trifling, superficial. ΘΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > insubstantial thin?c1225 lighta1413 superficiala1425 sleevelessc1450 frivolous1549 frothy1593 windy1593 shallow1594 airy1600 ghostlessa1603 sleazy1648 tenuious1656 wishy-washy1693 gauzy1774 lathery1803 wish-washy1814 tenuousa1817 toy1821 flimsy1827 airy-fairy1857 facile1857 feeblish1882 popcorn1973 1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. xiii. 305 But it was thine, flimsy villain, to execute the device which a bolder genius planned. 1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. II. ix. 195 Poor, flimsy, witty, wise, foolish..Horace Walpole. 1853 T. T. Lynch Lect. Self-improvem. iii. 66 The flimsy individual who has read fifty novels in a year, but nothing else. B. n. 1. slang. A bank-note; also, paper-money. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > paper money > [noun] > a banknote bank bill1682 bill1682 note1695 money bill1713 banknote1759 post-note1788 screen1789 stiff1823 flimsy1824 shin-plaster1824 billet1837 pennif1862 toadskin1867 currency note1891 dead president1944 1824 J. Badcock Boxiana IV. 443 Martin produced some ‘flimsies,’ and said he would fight on Tuesday next. 1842 R. H. Barham Merchant of Venice in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 47 English Exchequer-bills..the right sort of ‘flimsy,’ all sign'd by Monteagle. 1845 A. Smith Fortunes Scattergood Family II. xiii. 195 I'll stand a five-pun' flimsy for the piece. 2. A flimsy or thin kind of paper: esp. that used by reporters for the purpose of multiplying copies; hence, reporters' ‘copy’. Also, a sheet of thin paper, esp. that used on a typewriter for taking carbon copies; a document on thin paper. Also attributive. ΘΚΠ society > communication > printing > paper > [noun] > thin paper for carbon copies flimsy1857 society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > copy flimsy1857 copy1886 society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [noun] > paper for making copies flimsy1857 manifold1897 1857 J. E. Ritchie Night Side of London 202 The reporters—or, rather, the penny-a-liners—who write on ‘flimsey’, and leave ‘copy’ on spec. at all the daily paper offices. 1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock (1861) 30 Sub-editors are now hard at work cutting down ‘flimsy’. 1872 W. Besant & J. Rice Ready-money Mortiboy II. viii. 126 I'm afraid I shan't have enough flimsy. 1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 44 Flimsy, thin paper, such as..telegraph forms. 1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 13 Apr. 6/3 The Post Office telegraph ‘flimsy’ messages..are now to be multiplied by means of the typewriter. 1909 Daily Chron. 10 Mar. 7/6 He had sent to the defendants ‘flimsies’ of the original reports. 1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle i. 1 I had just finished breakfast..when I got Bullivant's telegram... I flung him the flimsy with the blue strip pasted down on it. 1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 50 Flimsy, an officer's report at the end of a commission or when leaving a man-of-war. 1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xiv. 175 She dragged the cover off the typewriter..shook the top sheet, carbons, and flimsies together as a terrier shakes a rat. 1952 M. Tripp Faith is Windsock vi. 95 Craig scrambled among his flimsies and maps. 1952 M. Tripp Faith is Windsock xi. 163 Wafer-like sheets of paper with transparent celluloid covering, known as flimsies, were distributed by the bombing leader. 1958 M. Dickens Man Overboard xiii. 193 The character references supplied by the Flimsies of his Confidential Reports. 1960 ‘N. Shute’ Trustee from Toolroom iii. 47 ‘I told you that I had an answer to that cable...’ He passed the flimsy to Keith. Derivatives ˈflimsy v. (transitive) to write on ‘flimsy’. ΘΠ society > communication > writing > manner of writing > [verb (transitive)] > write on specific material flimsy1886 1886 Daily News 17 July Had the questions to be copied out?—Yes; and the answers to be flimsied. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.1702
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