jewel

[joo-uh l]

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noun

a cut and polished precious stone; gem.

a fashioned ornament for personal adornment, especially of a precious metal set with gems.

a precious possession.

a person or thing that is treasured, esteemed, or indispensable.

a durable bearing used in fine timepieces and other delicate instruments, made of natural or synthetic precious stone or other very hard material.

an ornamental boss of glass, sometimes cut with facets, in stained-glass work.

something resembling a jewel in appearance, ornamental effect, or the like, as a star.

verb (used with object), jew·eled, jew·el·ing or (especially British) jew·elled, jew·el·ling.

to set or adorn with jewels.

Origin of jewel

1250–1300; Middle English jouel juel < Anglo-French jeul, Old French jouel, joel < Vulgar Latin *jocāle plaything, noun use of neuter of *jocālis (adj.) of play, equivalent to Latin joc(us) joke + -ālis -al¹

Related formsjew·el·like, adjectiveun·jew·eled, adjectiveun·jew·elled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for jeweled

beautiful, gilded, glamorous, lavish, sumptuous, sparkling, magnificent, opulent, elegant, fancy, baroque, rococo, gaudy, embroidered, aureate, bright, brilliant, busy, colored, convoluted

Examples from the Web for jeweled

Contemporary Examples of jeweled

Indeed, the collection brought out vibrant colors, sari-like draping, detailed embroideries, and jeweled embellishments.
Backstage at Marchesa Spring/Summer 2013
Isabel Wilkinson, Kevin Tachman
September 14, 2012
Her affection for a pleated skirt was in evidence, the jeweled collars, the oddball prints.
Milan Fashion Week's Malaise
Robin Givhan
September 23, 2011
His collection was a raucous mix of colors and embroidery, metallic shorts and jeweled collars.
The Look That Defined Fashion Week
Robin Givhan
September 16, 2011

Historical Examples of jeweled

She was without weapon save a jeweled whip that hung at her wrist.
Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer
Cyrus Townsend Brady
With the tips of her fat, jeweled fingers she touched Isobel's cheek.
Highacres
Jane Abbott
The blade of a jeweled sword was sunk deeply into the anvil.
Myths and Legends of All Nations
Various
She was there with the jeweled Heels and the hand-painted Ankles.
Ade's Fables
George Ade
But this fish was king of all the fishes, and had jeweled scales and golden fins.
Roumanian Fairy Tales
Various

British Dictionary definitions for jeweled

jewel

noun

a precious or semiprecious stone; gem

a person or thing resembling a jewel in preciousness, brilliance, etc

a gemstone, often synthetically produced, used as a bearing in a watch

a piece of jewellery

an ornamental glass boss, sometimes faceted, used in stained glasswork

jewel in the crown the most valuable, esteemed, or successful person or thing of a numberwho will be the jewel in the crown of English soccer?

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

(tr) to fit or decorate with a jewel or jewels

Derived Formsjewelled or US jeweled, adjectivejewel-like, adjective

Word Origin for jewel

C13: from Old French jouel, perhaps from jeu game, from Latin jocus

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

Word Origin and History for jeweled

jewel

late 13c., "article of value used for adornment," from Anglo-French juel, Old French jouel "ornament, jewel" (12c.), perhaps from Medieval Latin jocale, from Latin jocus "pastime, sport," in Vulgar Latin "that which causes joy" (see joke (n.)). Another theory traces it to Latin gaudium, also with a notion of "rejoice" (see joy).

Sense of "precious stone" developed early 14c. Meaning "beloved person, admired woman" is late 14c. Colloquial family jewels "testicles" is from 1920s, but jewel as "testicle" dates to late 15c.