briolette

[ bree-uh-let; French bree-aw-let ]

noun

, plural bri·o·lettes [bree-, uh, -, lets, b, r, ee-aw-, let].

1. any pear-shaped gem having its entire surface cut with triangular facets.

briolette

/ ˌbriːəʊˈlɛt /

noun

1. a pear-shaped gem cut with long triangular facets

Word History and Origins

Origin of briolette¹

1860–65; < French, variant of brillolette, itself alteration (by association with brillant diamond) of brignolette literally, little dried plum (facetious coinage), equivalent to brignole (after Brignoles in Provence, where the plums are dried) + -ette -ette

Word History and Origins

Origin of briolette¹

C19: from French, alteration of brillolette , from brignolette little dried plum, after Brignoles , France, where these plums are produced