doggerel

[ daw-ger-uhl, dog-er- ]

adjective

1. (of verse)
   1. comic or burlesque, and usually loose or irregular in measure.
   2. rude; crude; poor.

noun

1. doggerel verse.

doggerel

/ ˈdɒɡərəl; ˈdɒɡrəl /

noun

1. 1. comic verse, usually irregular in measure
   2. ( as modifier )

      a doggerel rhythm

2. nonsense; drivel

Word History and Origins

Origin of doggerel¹

1350–1400; Middle English; dog, -rel; dog Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of doggerel¹

C14 dogerel worthless, perhaps from dogge dog

Example Sentences

For 15 years, he wrote a long-form narrative every three weeks for the New Yorker; he’s also written shorter reported pieces, comic sketches and doggerel for the Nation, Time and elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

Some listeners heard a latter-day Ogden Nash in Mr. Osgood’s segments, though he told People magazine, “My stuff isn’t poetry — it’s just rampant doggerel.”

From New York Times

Let John Denton’s doggerel stand in for all the great jottings that didn’t make it into “Dear California.”

From Los Angeles Times

ChatGPT can turn out doggerel poetry or freshman and sophomore essays, pass tests on some technical subjects, write press releases, compile legal filings with a veneer of professionalism.

From Los Angeles Times

Worse, he was capable of doggerel even dogs wouldn’t want to read:

From New York Times

Related Words

• cadence
• poem
• poetry
• rhythm
• tune
• verse