jewel

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See also: Jewel

English

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A jewel.

Etymology

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From Middle English juel, jewel, juwel, jeuel, jowel, from Anglo-Norman juel, from Old French jouel, joel, joïel, hence French joyau, of uncertain origin. Perhaps based ultimately on Latin gaudium (joy), or on Latin iocus (joke; jest). Compare Medieval Latin jocale.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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jewel (plural jewels)

  1. A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.
  2. A valuable object used for personal ornamentation, especially one made of precious metals and stones; a piece of jewellery.
  3. (figuratively) Anything precious or valuable.
    Galveston was the jewel of Texas prior to the hurricane.
  4. (horology) A bearing for a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone.
  5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Hypochrysops.
  6. (slang) The clitoris.
    • 2008, Another Time, Another Place: Five Novellas:
      The area between her eyebrows wrinkled with the increasing circular motions her two fingers made on her jewel.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

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jewel (third-person singular simple present jewels, present participle jewelling or jeweling, simple past and past participle jewelled or jeweled)

  1. To bejewel; to decorate or bedeck with jewels or gems.

Translations

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Middle English

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Noun

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jewel

  1. Alternative form of juel