balderdash

/ˈbɔːldə.dæʃ/

Etymology

Unknown, possibly from the early English drink of wine mixed with beer or water or other substances that was sold cheaply.

noun

  1. Senseless talk or writing; nonsense.“Where, you cried in the name of Wonder, have you been able to gather together such an old fashioned Bundlement of Scientific Balderdash?”
  2. A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.“[T]hey would no more liue vnder the yoke of the Sea, or haue their heads waſht with his bubbly ſpume or Barbers balderdaſh, [...]”
  3. Obscene language or writing.“Trugge, therefore, (who has a foul mouth of his own, when he pleases) talked balderdash to Mrs. Sudberry, through the key-hole, which she did not answer, for, indeed, she seems a civil spoken woman, truly [...]”

verb

  1. To mix or adulterate.“That which is made by the peasants, both red and white, is generally genuine: but the wine-merchants of Nice brew and balderdash, and even mix it with pigeons dung and quick-lime.”