You searched for: “fustians
fustian (s) (noun), fustians (pl)
Pompous, inflated or impressive writing or speech without much meaning; high-sounding language.

In its earliest sense, fustian is "a fabric made from cotton and linen", but now it is used to mean "pretentious speech or writing".

His stated motive is to meet "the flood of cant, fustian and emotional nonsense" which pollutes the intellectual atmosphere.
—Walter H. Waggoner
Noise is a real problem.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Pretentious writing or speech.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group F (page 7)