tin·sel / ˈtinsəl/ • n. a form of decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil. ∎  showy or superficial attractiveness or glamour: his taste for the tinsel of the art world.DERIVATIVES: tin·sel·ly adj.

tinsel †attrib. embellished with gold or silver thread; sb. fabric so embellished; thin plates, strips, etc. of shining metal used for ornament XVI; fig. showy but valueless stuff XVII. First in tinsell(e) saten, prob. repr. AN. *satin estincelé (hence, by ellipsis, used sb.); (O)F. estincelé, f. estincele (mod. étincelle spark), repr. popL. *stincilla, f. L. SCINTILLA.