filigree

[ fil-i-gree ]

noun

1. delicate ornamental work of fine silver, gold, or other metal wires, especially lacy jewelers' work of scrolls and arabesques.
2. anything very delicate or fanciful:

   a filigree of frost.

adjective

1. composed of or resembling filigree.

verb (used with object)

, fil·i·greed, fil·i·gree·ing.

1. to adorn with or form into filigree.

filigree

/ ˈfɪlɪˌɡriː /

noun

1. delicate ornamental work of twisted gold, silver, or other wire
2. any fanciful delicate ornamentation

adjective

1. made of or as if with filigree

verb

1. tr to decorate with or as if with filigree

Derived Forms

• ˈfiliˌgreed, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of filigree¹

First recorded in 1685–95; earlier filigreen, variant of filigrain

Word History and Origins

Origin of filigree¹

C17: from earlier filigreen , from French filigrane , from Latin fīlum thread + grānum grain

Example Sentences

For instance, in Mompox, someone mentioned this 89-year-old silver filigree jeweler.

From Outside Online

First a thin film of black carbon is produced round the metal, then the latter appears in the form of a filigree of silver.

From Project Gutenberg

Fig. 188 represents another specimen of Etruscan gold filigree work with a circle and Swastika.

From Project Gutenberg

It is ornamented on the outside with the fine gold filigree work peculiar to the best Etruscan art.

From Project Gutenberg

Byzantine filigree work occasionally has small stones set amongst the curves or knots.

From Project Gutenberg

But, with the exception of chains, it cannot be said that filigree work was much practised by them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lattice