cabochon
Americannoun
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a precious stone of convex hemispherical or oval form, polished but not cut into facets.
-
an ornamental motif resembling this, either concave or convex and often surrounded by ornately carved leaf patterns, used on furniture of the 18th century.
adverb
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cabochon
1570–80; < Middle French, equivalent to caboche head ( see cabbage 1) + -on diminutive suffix
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:
The gold ring, which has a central hexagonal cabochon sapphire with two emeralds and two garnets, was uncovered by detectorist Mark Sell, 63, in King Row, Shipdham, in 2019.
From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2025
Weirdly I didn't have amazing courses in math, I had to have outside tutoring for the SATs and all of it, but I've known what a cabochon is since I was about 14.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2015
Ms. Amfitheatrof asked as Mr. Everett extracted from a display case a gumball-size, 34-carat cabochon ruby set at the center of a simple bracelet of platinum and diamonds.
From New York Times ● Nov. 19, 2014
The brooch is engraved with the initials "J.P.M.S." and has four turquoise forget-me-knots with a central red cabochon garnet heart.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2011
Valerian is in deep red, cabochon rubies sparkling on his cuffs, each like a drop of frozen blood.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
But it has some interesting decorations that include gilt bows and swags with three agate cabochons embedded in the base, topped with an amethyst.
From Forbes ● Apr. 20, 2015
In olive-drab green, the column dress was embellished with sparkly cabochons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2015
The owl’s eyes are large cabochons set over the twin cones, and its sparkling wings, wrapped around the HM3 engine, are entirely pavé-set with brilliant-cut stones.
From New York Times ● Nov. 26, 2010
Granted, it is one of the most regal birds of the forest, with its chocolate- color plumage, dappled with white spots, and its enormous eyes, like onyx cabochons, scouring the forest for prey.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the coils and masses of her black hair she fixed her two great cabochons of pearls, and clasped about her neck her palm-broad collaret of pearls and diamonds.
From The Pit by Norris, Frank
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
