FLUMMERY

mummery, flummery

(noun) meaningless ceremonies and flattery

flummery

(noun) a bland custard or pudding especially of oatmeal

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

flummery (plural flummeries)

A custard; any of several bland, gelatinous foodstuffs, usually made from stewed fruit and thickened with oatmeal, cornstarch or flour.

(historical, specifically) A slightly tart, jelly-like food of Welsh origin, made from extensively boiling oats, then boiling down the liquid extracted from it.

Empty or meaningless talk, especially when used to flatter.

pretentious trappings, useless ornaments used to impress.

Deceptive or blustering speech.

Interjection

flummery

An expression of contemptuous disbelief.

Source: Wiktionary

Flum"mer*y, n. Etym: [W. llumru, or llumruwd, a kind of food made of oatmeal steeped in water until it has turned sour, fr. llumrig harsh, raw, crude, fr. llum sharp, severe.]

1. A light kind of food, formerly made of flour or meal; a sort of pap. Milk and flummery are very fit for children. Locke.

2. Something insipid, or not worth having; empty compliment; trash; unsubstantial talk of writing. The flummery of modern criticism. J. Morley.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition