spread-eagleism

[ spred-ee-guh-liz-uh m ]

/ ˈsprɛdˈi gəˌlɪz əm /

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

Origin of spread-eagleism

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

spread-ea·gle·ist, noun

I am uneasy, fearing we may commit some spread-eagleism towards France during this present Mexican imbroglio.

Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862 |Adam Gurowski
Whenever any one addresses me with that inflection my spread-eagleism is aroused.

An American Girl in Munich |Mabel W. Daniels
Nothing is so damaging to appeals to prejudice, spread-eagleism, and fustian bombast as an impassive reception.

Public Speaking |Clarence Stratton
However reckless, at times, his spread-eagleism there was shrewdness behind it.

Lincoln |Nathaniel Wright Stephenson

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

My Life in Many States and in Foreign Lands |George Francis Train