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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Tawdry \Taw"dry\, a. [Compar. {Tawdrier}; superl. {Tawdriest}.]
[Said to be corrupted from Saint Audrey, or Auldrey, meaning
Saint Ethelreda, implying therefore, originally, bought at
the fair of St. Audrey, where laces and gay toys of all sorts
were sold. This fair was held in Isle Ely, and probably at
other places, on the day of the saint, which was the 17th of
October.]
1. Bought at the festival of St. Audrey. [Obs.]
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And gird in your waist,
For more fineness, with a tawdry lace. --Spenser.
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2. Very fine and showy in colors, without taste or elegance;
having an excess of showy ornaments without grace; cheap
and gaudy; as, a tawdry dress; tawdry feathers; tawdry
colors.
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He rails from morning to night at essenced fops and
tawdry courtiers. --Spectator.
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Tawdry \Taw"dry\, n.; pl. {Tawdries}.
A necklace of a rural fashion, bought at St. Audrey's fair;
hence, a necklace in general. [Obs.]
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Of which the Naiads and the blue Nereids make
Them tawdries for their necks. --Drayton.
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