Tin"sel , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tinseled (?) or Tinselled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Tinseling or
Tinselling.]
To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with
cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues.
Pope.
Tin"sel , a. Showy to excess; gaudy; specious; superficial. "Tinsel trappings."
Milton.
Tin"sel (?), n. [F. étincelle a spark, OF. estincelle, L. scintilla. Cf. Scintillate, Stencil.]
1. A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or
silver woven into it; also,
very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
Who
can discern the tinsel from the gold?
Dryden.
2. Something shining and gaudy; something
superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more gay
than valuable.
O happy peasant! O unhappy bard!
His the mere
tinsel, hers the rich reward.
Cowper.
Hear it pronounced