The word 'trumpery' originates from the Middle English verb 'trumpen', meaning to deceive or cheat, which itself likely derived from Old French 'tromper'. The suffix '-ery' was added to form a noun denoting things associated with that practice. Initially, in the 15th century, it referred to deceit or fraud. Over time, the meaning shifted from the act of deception to the worthless objects or nonsensical talk that are the typical products or tools of such deception, capturing the essence of something showy but fundamentally without value or truth.

Structure: trump (to deceive) + ery (noun suffix denoting practice or place) - trump: From Middle English 'trumpen' (to deceive), likely of Old French origin, serving as the core semantic root. - ery: A noun-forming suffix of Old French/Latin origin, indicating a collective quality, practice, or place.