- rococo (adj.)
- 1836, "old-fashioned," from French rococo, apparently a humorous alteration of rocaille "shellwork, pebble-work" from Middle French roche "rock," from Vulgar Latin *rocca "stone." Specifically of furniture or architecture of the time of Louis Quatorze and Louis Quinze, from 1841. If this is correct, the reference is to the excessive use of shell designs in this lavish style. For differentiation from baroque, see baroque. The general sense of "tastelessly florid or ornate" is from 1844.