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1. Dictionary

   Cock·a·ma·mie

   /ˈkäkəˌmāmē/

   

   adjective

   • 1. ridiculous; implausible: informal North American "a cockamamie theory"

   Word Origin 1940s (originally denoting a design left by a transfer): probably an alteration of decalcomania.

   Scrabble Points: 22

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2. People also ask

   Where did the word Cockamamie come from?

   • Although the word was adapted by Jewish immigrants in New York City to refer to transferable decals, it comes from French décalcomania. Cockamamie, or cockamamy, is now used to describe something wacky or ridiculous, and it’s often heard among those familiar with Yiddish. This is part of a complete episode.

   A Way with Words | Is "Cockamamie" Yiddish?

   www.waywordradio.org/is-cockamamie-yiddish/

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   Does Cockamamie etymology criss-cross different cultures?

   • Etymology can take some peculiar turns as a word criss-crosses different cultures. For the latest installment of Slate's Lexicon Valley podcast, I take the hosts along on the journey of the word cockamamie, which might seem stranger than fiction. Improbably enough, that journey starts in Paris in 1862.

   A Far-Fetched Etymology That Seems a Little Cockamamie

   www.vocabulary.com/articles/wordroutes/a-far-fetched-etymology-that-seems-a-little-cockamamie/

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   What does Cockamamie mean in Irish?

   • Its original meaning is a child's temporary tattoo. I don't know if the Irish said it first. COCKAMAMIE. "'Cockamamie' means something worthless or trifling, even absurd or strange; a 'cockamamie' excuse or story is an implausible, ridiculous one.

   Cockamamie or cockamamy - phrase meaning and origin

   www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/1335.html

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   Is cockamamy a nonsense word?

   • From a movie listing in The Hartford Courant (Connecticut), February 20, 2014 Build your vocabulary! Get Word of the Day in your inbox every day. Did You Know? By the look and sound of it, "cockamamy" (also spelled "cockamamie")seems like an arbitrarily coined nonsense word-but a reasonable explanation for its origin exists.

   Word of the Day: Cockamamy | Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/cockamamy-2014-04-20

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › word-of-the-dayWord of the Day: Cockamamy | Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › word-of-the-day

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   Apr 20, 2014 · By the look and sound of it, "cockamamy" (also spelled "cockamamie") seems like an arbitrarily coined nonsense word-but a reasonable explanation for its origin exists. Supposedly, "cockamamy" is an altered form of the term "decalcomania," which denotes a process of transferring pictures and designs from specially prepared paper to surfaces such ...

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › cockamamieCOCKAMAMIE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › cockamamie

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   Origin of cockamamie 1. Probably earlier than 1940–45, Americanism; in its original sense, “paper strip with an image which could be transferred to the skin when moistened,” apparently alteration of decalcomania; the current sense “ridiculous” probably by association with cock-and-bull story, poppycock, etc.

5. uselessetymology.com › 2018/07/30 › the-etymology-ofThe Etymology of “Decal” and “Cockamamie”

   uselessetymology.com › 2018/07/30 › the-etymology-of

   Jul 30, 2018 · “Decal,” a design that can be transferred onto another surface, is short for “decalcomania,” from French décalcomanie (Latin calcare “to tread on, press”). Decalcomania may also be the source of “cockamamie,” meaning “nonsense, implausible,” from the name of a series of children’s temporary tattoos.

6. slate.com › articles › podcastsThe Etymology of Cockamamie Is Just That - Slate Magazine

   slate.com › articles › podcasts

   Jan 12, 2015 · The Etymology of Cockamamie Is Just That Listen to Slate ’s show about the Yiddish-inflected origin of a crazy word, featuring lexicographer Ben Zimmer. By Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo

7. www.reddit.com › r › etymologyThe origin of this cockamamie word : r/etymology - Reddit

   www.reddit.com › r › etymology

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   No one denies it's almost certainly derived from the French decalcomania, but cockamamie is first attested in New York in the 20s-30s. The source linked in Wiktionary quotes the New York Times in 1956 saying, "This word, translated from the Brooklynese, is the authorized pronunciation of decalcomania."

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › english › cockamamieCOCKAMAMIE definition in American English | Collins English ...

   www.collinsdictionary.com › english › cockamamie

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   Apr 25, 2024 · US. adjective Slang. 1. of poor quality. 2. silly; ridiculous. Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. Word origin. alteration of decalcomania, prob. infl. by cock-a-nee-nee, 19th-c. name in New York for a cheap molasses candy. Word Frequency.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › cockamamieCOCKAMAMIE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › cockamamie

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   adjective. US disapproving or humorous (also cockamamy) us / ˈkɑːk.əˌmeɪ.mi / uk / ˌkɒk.əˈmeɪ.mi /. Add to word list. Add to word list. stupid or silly: cockamamie idea He had some cockamamie idea about turning waste paper into animal food.