trim-tram, n. (a.) Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈtrɪmˈtræm)
Also 9 dial. trin tran.
[In I. app. f. trim a., with varied reduplication; in II. and III., app. whimsical applications of I.; but perh. distinct words.]
I. (Cf. flim-flam, jim-jam, whim-wham.)
† 1. app. A personal ornament of little value; a pretty toy or trifle; a gew-gaw. Obs.
| 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 130 A trym tram for an horse myll it were a nyse thyng. a 1529 ― El. Rummyng 76 After the Sarasyns gyse, With a whym wham, Knyt with a trym tram, Vpon her brayne pan. 1548 Patten Exped. Scotl. Pref. c iv, From y⊇ fondnes of his trimtrams and gugaws. 1560 Becon Jewel of Joy Wks. II. 19 b, A frenche hode wyth an edge of golde, besydes pearles and precious stons and suche other trime trames. 1667 F. Vernon Oxonium 24 [Undergraduates] making Trimtrams with Rushes and flowers. |
† 2. An absurd or silly device or practice; an absurdity; a piece of nonsense. Obs.
| 1533 More Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1114/2, I haue as you se so wel auoyded his ginnes and his grinnes & all his trimtrams. c 1550 R. Wever Lusty Juventus in Hazl. Dodsley II. 66 Holy kneeling, holy censings, And a hundred trim-trams mo. 1568 W. Fulwood Enimie Idlenesse i. B vij, Whether that sorcerers do vse to ryde vpon a Byzom, and practise such other like trim trams. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 46 But loa, to what purpose do I chat such ianglerye trim trams? 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 16. 2/2, I have some Thoughts with an old Trim Tram To venture on the Marriage Whim Wham. |
3. In riming jingles; sometimes referring to similarity or equal treatment of two of different position. Now dial. (Cf. giff-gaff.)
| 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus D iij b, Trim tram, neither good for God nor man. a 1627 Middleton & Rowley Span. Gipsy iv. iii, Trim, tram, hang master, hang man! 1681 T. Flatman Heraclitus Ridens No. 19 (1713) I. 131 Well, Trim tram, like Master like Man. 1760–62 Smollett Sir L. Greaves xiii, They thought you as great a nincompoop as your squire—trim tram, like master, like man. 1877 T. Gibson Leg., etc. Westmoreld. 50 Trin tran, sike like master sike like man, A lazy life brings scant or scan. |
† 4. attrib. or as adj.
| 1615 E. Hoby Curry-combe v. 223 Wee dare not say the Master and man might bee trim-tram and confederate. 1632 Brome North. Lasse i. v, What a Trim-tram trick is this? the Master and the man both brain-cras'd. 1762 Bridges Burlesque Homer (1772) 411 (Farmer) He's telling some long trim-tram story. |
II. † 5. A shrimp-net having a triangular wooden frame resting on the ground in front of the beam (Funk's Stand. Dict.). attrib. trim-tram man, one who uses this net in shrimping. Obs.
| 1590 Cal. St. Papers, Dom. 692 Regulations for hooks..whitebait, shrimp leaps and trim trams. 1746 R. Griffiths Ess. Conserv. Thames Index 277 Draggermen (or Trim⁓trammen). |
III. 6. A lich-gate; also a gate which opens in a V-shaped enclosure, a kissing-gate. dial.
| 1842 Church Builder Apr. 45 note, In..parts of Devonshire and Cornwall Lichgates are called Trim-trams. 1893 Wilts. Gloss., Trim-tram, a gate which swings in a V-shaped enclosure of post and rail, so as to prevent cattle from passing through. |