balderdash
UK[ˈbɔːldədæʃ]US[ˈbɔːldərdæʃ]
n
nonsense; foolish talk or ideas.
Etymology
the origin of 'balderdash' is obscure, first appearing in english in the late 16th century. it initially referred to a frothy liquid mixture or jumbled drink, such as beer and milk or wine and water, suggesting a sense of worthless mixture or adulteration. by the late 17th century, the meaning had figuratively shifted from a nonsensical mixture of liquids to a jumbled mixture of words, solidifying its modern sense of senseless talk or nonsense. its whimsical sound and the lack of a clear root contribute to its character as a word for foolishness.
Analysis
this word is a simplex. it is considered an unsegmentable loanword or coinage with no clear, productive morphemes in modern english.
Examples
his explanation was pure balderdash, designed to confuse the committee.
don't listen to that political balderdash; look at the actual facts.
the article was filled with pseudoscientific balderdash.