cockamamies

Noun

cockamamie (countable and uncountable, plural cockamamies)

1. (US, dated) A decal, a design that can be transferred to a surface.
   • “If it wuz a nickel,” said one broody voice between the gratings, “I could buy fuh two cends cockamamies an’ pud em on mine hull arm. An’ den fuh t’ree cends I’ll go to duh movies.”
     “Yuh c’n buy fuh t’ree cends cockamamies.” Izzy crisply revised the dream.1934, Henry Roth, Call It Sleep, published 1976, page 367
2. A foolish or ridiculous person.
   • “What’s going down here, you cockamamies, we’re releasing two pictures this week about goddamn rich guys who get involved with their goddamn black tenants? What is this, an April Fool’s memo?”1970, Esquire, volume 74, page 69

   Synonyms:

   alcatote, asshat, arsehole, asshole, bayard, berk, birdbrain, blither, bobchin, bonehead

3. Ridiculousness; folly; foolish nonsense.
   • Most of his ideas were pure cockamamie. One of them, however, was a real beaut.2005, Tom De Haven, It's Superman!, page 217

See all 5 meanings of cockamamie