jewel
[joo-uh l]
- a cut and polished precious stone; gem.
- a fashioned ornament for personal adornment, especially of a precious metal set with gems.
- a precious possession.
- a person or thing that is treasured, esteemed, or indispensable.
- a durable bearing used in fine timepieces and other delicate instruments, made of natural or synthetic precious stone or other very hard material.
- an ornamental boss of glass, sometimes cut with facets, in stained-glass work.
- something resembling a jewel in appearance, ornamental effect, or the like, as a star.
- to set or adorn with jewels.
Origin of jewel
Jewel
[joo-uh l]
- a female given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for jewel
Contemporary Examples
For dinner, Sidney Street Café, the jewel in St. Louis' culinary crown.
The hot pants that Spears sports in this look are clearly the jewel of her hot pants collection.
“I remember telling her that she smelled nice,” Jewel says of her interaction that night with June.
At first, Jewel giggles at the thought of her own life being adapted into its own Lifetime movie.
He also praised new comedy Trophy Wife as a “jewel of a show.”
Historical Examples
He would prize the jewel, and overlook the inferiority of the casket.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
Even good Bishop Jewel did not disbelieve in the power of the evil eye.
English VillagesP. H. Ditchfield
There's my hand: I promise you, I'll never be called on to perform that, Honor, jewel.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
She had a face of rare beauty and was the jewel of his love.
The Chinese Fairy BookVarious
It is not well that such a jewel should be hidden in this grey casket.
The Strolling SaintRaphael Sabatini
jewel
- a precious or semiprecious stone; gem
- a person or thing resembling a jewel in preciousness, brilliance, etc
- a gemstone, often synthetically produced, used as a bearing in a watch
- a piece of jewellery
- an ornamental glass boss, sometimes faceted, used in stained glasswork
- jewel in the crown the most valuable, esteemed, or successful person or thing of a numberwho will be the jewel in the crown of English soccer?
- (tr) to fit or decorate with a jewel or jewels
Word Origin
C13: from Old French jouel, perhaps from jeu game, from Latin jocus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for jewel
n.
late 13c., "article of value used for adornment," from Anglo-French juel, Old French jouel "ornament, jewel" (12c.), perhaps from Medieval Latin jocale, from Latin jocus "pastime, sport," in Vulgar Latin "that which causes joy" (see joke (n.)). Another theory traces it to Latin gaudium, also with a notion of "rejoice" (see joy).
Sense of "precious stone" developed early 14c. Meaning "beloved person, admired woman" is late 14c. Colloquial family jewels "testicles" is from 1920s, but jewel as "testicle" dates to late 15c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper