Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tawdry
Taw′dry
,Adj.
[
Com
par.
Tawdrier
; sup
erl.
Tawdriest
.] [Said to be corrupted from
Saint Audrey
, or Auldrey
, meaning Saint Ethelreda
, implying therefore, originally, bought at the fair of St. Audrey, where laces and gay toys of all sorts were sold. This fair was held in Isle Ely, and probably at other places, on the day of the saint, which was the 17th of October.] 1.
Bought at the festival of St. Audrey.
[Obs.]
And gird in your waist,
For more fineness, with a
For more fineness, with a
tawdry
lace. Spenser.
2.
Very fine and showy in colors, without taste or elegance; having an excess of showy ornaments without grace; cheap and gaudy;
as, a
tawdry
dress; tawdry
feathers; tawdry
colors.He rails from morning to night at essenced fops and
tawdry
courtiers. Spectator.
Taw′dry
,Noun.
pl.
Tawdries
. A necklace of a rural fashion, bought at St. Audrey’s fair; hence, a necklace in general.
[Obs.]
Of which the Naiads and the blue Nereids make
Them
Them
tawdries
for their necks. Drayton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tawdry
TAW'DRY
,Adj.
He rails from morning to night at essenced fops and tawdry courtiers.
TAW'DRY
,Noun.