Jump To:

• etui
  etui

  noun

  a small, often decorative case, especially one for needles, toilet articles, or the like.
• étui
  étui

  noun

  a small usually ornamented case for holding needles, cosmetics, or other small articles

etui

American  

[ey-twee, et-wee] / eɪˈtwi, ˈɛt wi /

Or etwee

noun

• etuis
  plural

1. a small, often decorative case, especially one for needles, toilet articles, or the like.

---

étui British  

/ ɛˈtwiː /

noun

1. a small usually ornamented case for holding needles, cosmetics, or other small articles

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• etuis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of etui

1605–15; < French étui, Old French estui holder, noun derivative of estuier to keep < Vulgar Latin *studiāre to treat with care

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

etui étui etuis

On the other hand, Bach is a disarming small-talker; a rememberer of birthdays; a collector of personal factoids he jots onto slips of paper and carries in an etui for later use.

From New York Times ● Jul. 20, 2021

The queen then returned, holding in her hands two very pretty portfolios for her drawings, and a very fine gold etui.

From The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay — Volume 1 by Fanny Burney

She stood up, and handed him the etui with the air of an insulted queen, without once glancing at its contents, and only divining their value by the size and weight of the case.

From Frederick the Great and His Court by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

Try one of my Pickwicks," said Franklin Fox, with a sneer, offering his gold etui to the young Frenchman; "they are some of Pontet's best, Prince.

From Burlesques by William Makepeace Thackeray

She went quickly up to him with the open etui.

From Joseph II. and His Court by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

A ball struck the King, whose life was saved by the circumstance of its coming in contact with an étui in his waistcoat pocket.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 13 by John Rudd

The etymology of tweezers can best be made clear by starting from French étui, a case, of doubtful origin.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Ernest Weekley

The color of the étui, on which so fair a hand is resting, is not softer than the hues one sees in the heavens of Italy.

From The Water-Witch or, the Skimmer of the Seas by James Fenimore Cooper

When the Grand Duke entered he had in his hand an étui containing the decoration, intending to hang it around Moltke's neck himself.

From The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912 by L. de (Lillie de) Hegermann-Lindencrone

He took from the hands of the assistant burgomaster a dark-red étui, from which he a wreath of oak-leaves, worked in silver, which he presented to Gotzkowsky.

From The Merchant of Berlin An Historical Novel by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

The Moors and the Negroes, have an extraordinary respect for these priests, who manufacture leather, into little etuis, perfumed bags, and pocketbooks, to which they give the name of gris-gris.

From Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 Undertaken by Order of the French Government, Comprising an Account of the Shipwreck of the Medusa, the Sufferings of the Crew, and the Various Occurrences on Board the Raft, in the Desert of Zaara, at St. Louis, and at the Camp of Daccard. to Which Are Subjoined Observations Respecting the Agriculture of the Western Coast of Africa, from Cape Blanco to the Mouth of the Gambia. by Alexandre Corréard

Now, I count here twenty-four etuis, and they are filled with the choicest trinkets.

From Louisa of Prussia and Her Times by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

Conrad opened the drawer of the large writing-table which was standing close to Haydn, and which contained a great many large and small etuis, caskets and boxes.

From Andreas Hofer by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

Close by stood the toilet of gold with its wilderness of jewels and etuis, all the gifts of the empress.

From Joseph II. and His Court by L. (Luise) Mühlbach