garish

[1540s], of unknown origin, possibly from obsolete Middle English gawren (“to stare”) which is of uncertain origin, probably from Old Norse gá (“to watch, heed”) or gaurr (“rough fellow”) (Proto-Indo-European *gʰow-rós, from *gʰew- (“to be angry”))[1][2]. Compare with English gaw.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɛəɹɪʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

garish (comparative more garish, superlative most garish)

1. Overly ostentatious; so colourful as to be in bad taste.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:gaudy

   The dress fits her well, but the pattern is rather garish.

   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

     "My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects; […]."

   • 2003 August 10, Ken Keeler, "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings", Futurama, season 5, episode 16, Fox Broadcasting Company

     Leela: He gave me mechanical ears / Effective though just a bit garish.

• garishly
• garishness

• Harigs, girahs, girsha