English

Adjective

jerry-built

1. Built cheaply and shoddily.
   • 1859, August 6, Albany Fonblanque, Junr., Once a Week, article Sebastopol Villa:

     He had tried other building speculations, had run up other “jerry-built” houses, and had failed utterly, hopelessly.

   • 1859, L. B. E., Cottoniron; a Poem, part 1, canto 3:

     Reigns supreme for jerry-built
     Houses tricked out with gorgeous gilt,
     Like cakes o' gingerbread, that crumble,
     And in another century 'll tumble

Related terms

• jerry-build
• jerry-builder / jerrybuilder

See also

• jury-rigged