ETYMOLOGY
corruption of French fanfelue, from medieval Latin famfalūca (bubble, lie),
apparently from Greek πομϕόλυξ (bubble)
EXAMPLE
“…In brest of the Godesse Gorgon was cocketed hardlye,
With nodil vnioyncted, by death, light vital amoouing.
Voyd ye fro theese flamfews, quoa the God, set a part the begun wurck…”
From: Thee First Foure Bookes of Virgil his Aeneis
Translated intoo English heroical verse by Richard Stanyhurst, 1582
Lexicophilia 