Etymology Map
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Falderal

2 stages from English to English.

Today it means nonsense; a showy but worthless trifle

Where does the word "falderal" come from? It comes from English fal-de-ral, adopted directly into English (1820s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
fal-de-ral
English · 1700s
"song refrain"
a meaningless refrain in songs, like 'fa-la-la'
2
Stage 2 of 2
falderal
English · 1820s
"nonsense, trifle"
came to mean a trifle, then nonsense; 'folderol' is a common variant
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Falderal’s story begins in English: fal-de-ral meant “song refrain.” A meaningless refrain in songs, like 'fa-la-la'. It reached English by 1820s as falderal. Came to mean a trifle, then nonsense; 'folderol' is a common variant. Today, falderal means nonsense; a showy but worthless trifle.