Skimble-Skamble
. Rambling, worthless. “Skamble” is merely a variety of scramble, hence “scambling days,” those days in Lent when no regular meals are provided, but each person “scrambles” or shifts for himself. “Skimble” is added to give force. (See Reduplicated Words.)
“And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff
As put me from my faith.”
“With such scamble-scemble, spitter-spatter,
As puts me cleane beside the money-matter.”
Taylor’s Workes, ii. 39 (1630).
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Entry taken from
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,
edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.