WORD OF THE DAY: FLIM-FLAM-FLIRT

FLIM-FLAM-FLIRT

​NOUN
a nonsensical speech, a gibe, deceptive nonsense ...1573

ETYMOLOGY
? from flim-flam (n. a piece of nonsense of idle talk), or flim-flam (adj. frivolous, idle, vain, nonsensical), or flam-flirt (int. nonsense) 

FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1573 - see EXAMPLE below

EXAMPLE
"...Then oughst haue ben affraid for thine, now causles dost but square
In vain, and flimflam flirts out throwst at them that nothing care.
Such talkings Iuno gaue, and heauenly wights with murmor round
All sondry cried assents, as first whan blasts begin to sound,
With puffs they wag the woods, and tombling blind with soft vprore
They nere pronostike winds, and tels the seaman stormes before..."
From: The Whole .xii. Bookes of the Aeneidos of Virgill. Whereof the first .ix. and part of the Tenth, were Conuerted into English Meeter by Thomas Phaer Esquire, and the Residue Supplied, and the Whole Worke Together Newly Set Forth by Thomas Twyne, Gentleman
- Thomas Twyne