different between jewellery vs jewel

English

Alternative forms

• jewelry (American, sometimes Canadian)

Etymology

From Middle English juelrye, from Old French juelerye, equivalent to jewel +? -ery.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: jo?o??lr?, jo?ol?r? IPA^(key): /?d?u??l?i/, /?d?u?l?i/
• (alternate UK pronunciation) enPR: jo?o??l?r?, jo?o?l?r? IPA^(key): /?d?u??l??i/, /?d?u?l??i/ (this pronunciation gives rise to the Cockney rhyming slang tomfoolery)

Noun

jewellery (usually uncountable, plural jewelleries)

1. (British spelling, Canadian spelling) Collectively, personal ornamentation such as rings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets, made of precious metals and sometimes set with gemstones.

   Synonyms: (Cockney rhyming slang) tom, (Cockney rhyming slang) tomfoolery

Synonyms

• see also Thesaurus:jewelry

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d?u??l/, /?d?u?l/, /?d???l/
• (Canada, General American) IPA^(key): /d?ul/, /?d?u.?l/
• Rhymes: -u?l, -??l
• Homophone: joule

Noun

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.
   • ante 1611, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Cymbeline, act I, scene vi, lines 188–9:

     Iachimo: 'Tis plate of rare device, and jewels / Of rich and exquisite form, their values great.

3. (figuratively) Anything precious or valuable.
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

• See also Thesaurus:gemstone

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

Middle English

Noun

jewel

1. Alternative form of juel