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paillette

American  
[pahy-yet, pey-, puh-let, pa-yet] / paɪˈjɛt, peɪ-, pəˈlɛt, paˈjɛt /

noun

paillettes plural
  1. a spangle for ornamenting a costume.

  2. (in enameling) a decorative piece of gold, silver, or colored foil.


paillette British  
/ pælˈjɛt, pajɛt /

noun

  1. a sequin or spangle sewn onto a costume

  2. a small piece of metal or foil, used in enamelling for decoration

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of paillette

From French, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at pallet 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Unfortunately the sheer weight of the paillette embroidering did not always cut the most flattering of shapes on some of the tights, all be them finely executed.

From Seattle Times Jan. 24, 2022

The thickly embroidered paillette body suits in stripes evoked how observers in the Sixties imagined what space-age fashions might be - as Russia battled with the U.S. for dominance in space during the Cold War.

From Washington Times Jan. 26, 2015

The thickly embroidered paillette body suits in stripes evoked how observers in the Sixties imagined what space-age fashions might be — as Russia battled with the U.S. for dominance in space during the Cold War.

From US News Jan. 26, 2015

The collection, built on dense jacquards and shades of jungle green, featured intricately embroidered minidresses, boxy little jackets cuffed or collared in faux wood paneling and long dresses sprouting plastic paillette leaves.

From New York Times Oct. 1, 2014

The obsidian also has apparently been subjected to the artificial fire; and a splinter of it contains a paillette of free copper.

From The Land of Midian — Volume 1 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

Imagine the ghostly rustling of silk taffeta, the clinking of giant paillettes, brought back to life by scientists and engineers.

From New York Times May 9, 2024

Sheer mermaid gowns and dresses with sinuous three-dimensional florets glimmered with paillettes and tulle.

From Seattle Times Mar. 4, 2023

Carey Mulligan, in Valentino Couture, embraced the 6-foot distancing requirements with a sumptuously bustled skirt covered in iridescent paillettes.

From Slate Apr. 25, 2021

Same goes for a gold and fuchsia-tinted stretch pleather mermaid gown with opalescent paillettes.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 2, 2019

"I couldn't wear a pink and blue one with this—" glancing over the smoky mousey thing "—or paillettes."

From The Head of the House of Coombe by Burnett, Frances Hodgson

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