Dictionary

frammis en · NOUN

Etymology

Unknown. Originated in the US in the 1930s; perhaps merely a nonsense word.

Meanings

1. (US, slang) Synonym of gizmo.
   • Are you satisfied that your multiplicative inverse rests securely on its Cartesian coordinates with its cosecant separated from the frammis by the rigid transformation of its orthogonal projection? 1938, The American Biology Teacher, volume 24, page 341, column 2:
   • "Frammis on the Antispode": The doubletalk heading this paragraph takes the sting out of Mr. Ruark's comment, even if his gay colored foulard Sinatra bow tie didn't contradict his comment[.] 1947, Men's Wear, volume 114, page 90, column 1:
   • "Listen, I caulderoled the nurse for a minute and sneaked down the frammis." "What?" "I had to talk to you." 1949 January 1, Collier's Magazine, page 56, column 4:
   • But how can they react helpfully to orders that sound like, "Shift the shackle on the frammis to the glotz"? 1963 May 14, Mademoiselle, page 225, column 2:
   • Right now all his spare time is spent at Moseleys, roller skating for hours on end. "Foozle the frammis snaffle," says Bob, "or don't you like it?" 1938, The Year Book of the Class of 1938: Dedham High School, page 33, column 1:
2. (US, slang) A confidence trick; a swindle.
   • And what they added up to was curtains - for him. He'd really stepped into something this time: a Grade-A jam, an honest-to-Hannah, double-distilled frammis. 1957 May, Jim Thompson, Alfred Hitchcock's Suspense Magazine, page 18, column 1:

Forms

Synonyms

gizmo