ramshackle
pronunciation
How to pronounce ramshackle in British English:
UK [ˈræmʃækl]
How to pronounce ramshackle in American English:
US [ˈræmˌʃækəl]
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- Adjective:
- in deplorable condition
Word Origin
- ramshackle
- ramshackle: see ransack
- ramshackle (adj.)
- 1809, back-formation from ramshackled, earlier ranshackled (1670s), alteration of ransackled, past participle of ransackle (see ransack). The word seems to have been Scottish. Reading over this note to an American gentleman, he seemed to take alarm, lest the word ramshackle should be palmed on his country. I take it home willingly, as a Scotticism, and one well applied, as may be afterwards shown. [Robert Gourlay, "General Introduction to a Statistical Account of Upper Canada," London, 1822] Jamieson's "Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language" (1825) has it as a noun meaning "thoughtless, ignorant fellow."
Example
- 1. Second , the next president should fix america 's ramshackle public services .
- 2. Its economy is heavily skewed to older industries . Its educational system is ramshackle .
- 3. Earlier a ramshackle mission to syria by the arab league had ended in bickering .
- 4. When rain is not flooding the ramshackle tents and tarps , the summer sun turns them into hothouses .
- 5. The balts are also well placed to advise other countries how to turn rough-and-ready , ramshackle armies into something more professional .