A.Word.A.Day --A word from the archives

A.Word.A.Day

Home

A Random Word From the Archives

Permanent link for this word: highfalutin

Apr 22, 2011

This week's theme
Words derived from musical instruments

This week's words
calliopean
pariah
clarion
second fiddle
highfalutin

This week's comments
AWADmail 460

Next week's theme
Words related to clothing

Discuss

Feedback

RSS/XML

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

highfalutin

PRONUNCIATION:

(hy-fuh-LOOT-n)

Also spelled as hifalutin or highfalutin' or hifalutin' or highfaluting.

MEANING:

adjective: Pompous; bombastic.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of uncertain origin, perhaps from high-fluting, from flute. Earliest documented use: 1839.

NOTES:

Highfalutin may or may not be high flute, but the flute's cousin, oboe, is high wood. It's a corruption of French haut (high) + bois (wood). The musical instrument is named owing to its having the highest register among woodwinds. An orchestra typically tunes to an oboe.

USAGE:

"The document talks very highfalutin' and lofty language, which sounds great and is hard to disagree with, but at the end of the day businesses just want to get the basics right."
Hamish Fletcher; Push for More Innovative Auckland; New Zealand Herald (Auckland); Mar 29, 2011.

See more usage examples of highfalutin in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter, architect, and poet (1475-1564)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise