ramshackle

English

WOTD – 2 June 2007

Etymology

First attested 1830, back-formation from ramshackled, from ransackled, past participle of ransackle (to ransack), frequentative of Middle English ransaken (to pillage).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: rămʹshăk'əl, IPA(key): /ˈɹæmˌʃæk.əl/
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Adjective

ramshackle (comparative more ramshackle, superlative most ramshackle)

  1. In disrepair or disorder; poorly maintained; lacking upkeep, usually of buildings or vehicles.
    • Thackeray
      There came [] my lord the cardinal, in his ramshackle coach.
    • 1914, David Lloyd George
      A ramshackle old empire. (of Austria-Hungary).
    • 2012 September 7, Dominic Fifield, “England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova”, in The Guardian:
      So ramshackle was the locals' attempt at defence that, with energetic wingers pouring into the space behind panicked full-backs and centre-halves dizzied by England's movement, it was cruel to behold at times. The contest did not extend beyond the half-hour mark.
    They stayed in a ramshackle cabin on the beach.
    He entered the ramshackle bus, and was driven a long distance through very sandy streets to the hotel on the St. Lawrence.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

ramshackle (third-person singular simple present ramshackles, present participle ramshackling, simple past and past participle ramshackled)

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To ransack.
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