spread-eagleism

[ spred-ee-guh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. boastfulness or bombast, especially in the display of patriotic or nationalistic pride in the U.S.; flag-waving.

Other Words From

• spread-eagle·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spread-eagleism¹

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; spread-eagle + -ism

Example Sentences

Lawyer Rattlinger and President Hartling dropped in and made excellent, “higher plane” speeches—that is, speeches delightfully devoid of brutish war-sentiment and silly spread-eagleism—after which the Sunday-school children sang, “God Bless Our Native Land,” with great vigor and were rewarded with a delicious finish of ice-cream and lemonade.

From Project Gutenberg

Did “spread-eagleism” as well as population first reach America from China?

From Project Gutenberg

Bishop of Jamaica, meeting with, 88; dinner with, in London, 98."Spread-Eagleism,"

From Project Gutenberg

When the miners, who had heard of my "spread-eagleism," as it has since been called, started their little revolt against the government of the British, they thought of me and offered me the presidency of the republic they wanted to create.

From Project Gutenberg

I made a speech, which is printed in full in "Spread-Eagleism," published in '58.

From Project Gutenberg