Webster's defines
falderal as a "useless ornament", but I always thought the word referred to any kind of
detritus or
junk, especially detritus or junk that’s in your way.
"Gee, I can't find my pen because my desk is covered with all this falderal," I might say. (Well, I mean, I wouldn't actually
say that, but if I was to use the word that's how I'd use it.)
The only place I’ve heard falderal used recently is in the
They Might Be Giants song "
Metal Detector:"
"Look past the volleyball… look past the squawking gull… ignore the mountain of discarded falderal."
TMBG seem to share my definition -- and who knows more about words,
dictionary guys or
geek bands? (Although, Webster’s also defines faldelral as a
nonsense refrain, so I guess the jury’s out.)