trappings

  • 1Trappings — Trap pings, n. pl. [From {Trap} to dress with ornaments.] 1. That which serves to trap or adorn; ornaments; dress; superficial decorations. [1913 Webster] Trappings of life, for ornament, not use. Dryden. [1913 Webster] These but the trappings… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2trappings — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) the visible signs or objects associated with a particular situation or role: the trappings of success. 2) a horse s ornamental harness. ORIGIN from obsolete trap «trappings», from Old French drap «drape» …

    English terms dictionary

  • 3trappings — [trap′iŋz] pl.n. [< ME trappe: see TRAP3] 1. an ornamental covering for a horse; caparison 2. articles of dress, esp. of an ornamental kind; adornments 3. the things usually associated with something as an outward sign of its existence or… …

    English World dictionary

  • 4trappings — index paraphernalia (personal belongings) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5trappings — (n.) ornamental covering for a horse, late 14c., from M.E. trappe cloth for a horse (c.1300), later personal effects (mid 15c.), alteration of M.Fr. drap cloth (see DRAPE (Cf. drape) (n.)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6trappings — [n] paraphernalia, equipment accouterment, adornment, apparel, appointment, decoration, dress, embellishment, finery, fitting, fixture, furnishing, gear, livery, ornament, panoply, personal effects, raiment, rigging, things, trimming; concepts… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7trappings — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ external, outer (AmE), outward, visible ▪ She scorns the visible trappings of success, preferring to live unnoticed. ▪ traditional, usual …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 8trappings — trap|pings [ˈtræpıŋz] n [plural] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: trap to decorate (14 20 centuries), from trap cloth (14 18 centuries), from Old French drap; DRAPE] things such as money, influence, possessions etc that are related to a particular type… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 9trappings — [[t]træ̱pɪŋz[/t]] N PLURAL: usu N of n (disapproval) The trappings of power, wealth, or a particular job are the extra things, such as decorations and luxury items, that go with it. The family were in government for several generations and… …

    English dictionary

  • 10trappings — /trap ingz/, n. (used with a plural v.) 1. articles of equipment or dress, esp. of an ornamental character. 2. conventional adornment; characteristic signs: trappings of democracy. 3. Sometimes, trapping. an ornamental covering for a horse;… …

    Universalium