WORD FOR THE DAY

Your word for today is: gasconade, n. and adj.

gasconade, n. and adj.

Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌɡaskəˈneɪd/, /ˌɡaskəˈnɑːd/,  U.S. /ˌɡæskəˈneɪd/, /ˌɡæskəˈnɑd/

Forms:  16–17 gasconad,   16– gasconade,   17 gascoignade,   17 gasconnade.

Etymology: <  French gasconnade (a1611 in à la gasconnade) <  gascon Gascon n. + -ade -ade suffix. Compare gasconado n.

A. n.
 
Extravagant boasting or exaggeration; boastful or bombastic language; (also) an instance of this.

1652  T. Urquhart Εκσκυβαλαυρον 73 The Gasconads of France, Rodomontads of Spain, Fanfaronads of Italy.

1709  R. Steele Tatler No. 115. ⁋5 That Figure of Speech which is commonly distinguish'd by the Name of Gasconade.

1748  T. Smollett Roderick Random II. xliv. 65 He recounted his victory with many exaggerations and gasconades.

1754  G. Washington Diary 28 May (1976) 198 The Summons was so insolent, and savoured the Gasconnade so much, that [etc.].

1776  J. Q. Adams Wks. (1854) IX. 400 The reports of fifty-five thousand men coming against us, are chiefly ministerial gasconade.

1818  S. Smith in Edinb. Rev. (1819) LXII. 140 In their criticisms upon American gasconade, they forget that vulgar people of all countries are full of gasconade.

1874  J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People x. §1. 736 The occasional gasconade of the young soldier of thirty-three.

1903  ‘O. Henry’ in Everybody's Mag. Feb. 175/2 Whosoever entered it must sit..and listen to the imp's interminable gasconade concerning his scandalous career.

1952  R. C. Hutchinson Recoll. Journey vii. 147 He held us all in a child's affection, which his uniform required him to cover with gasconade.

2002 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 7 Apr. 10/4 Honesty and frankness do more for the public's confidence in the medical profession than extravagant boasting or supercilious gasconade.

†B. adj.
 
Characterized by extravagant boasting or exaggeration; bombastic. Obs.

1714  R. Steele Englishman No. 40 263 The Gasconade stile is out of Date.

1779 Remembrancer 225/2 Such gasconade productions take away from that character of wisdom and serious fortitude, which America hath hitherto supported.

1841  C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley li. 261 The gasconade tone of the Frenchman would peep through.

1845  ‘De Harno’ Story of Olden Time iv. 155 A knight of the Cross stood armed cap-à-pié, His gasconade air and armour..Proclaim'd him Sir Sigismund Brierleigh.

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