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filigree

Etymology and origin of the English word filigree

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/[1]

Etymology

It is an alteration of filigreen (1682) and earlier filigrane (1668),[2][3] from French filigrane,[4][2][3][5] from Italian filigrana,[4][2][3][5] from Latin fīlum (“thread, wire”) and Latin grānum (“grain”).[4][2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Delicate jewel work made with threads and beads, usually of gold and silver (1693).[6][2][5]

Semantic evolution

The name combines the fine wire and the small beads or grains used in the work.[3][5] Figurative uses for any delicate, intricate ornament appear from 1871,[6] and the verb, “to adorn with filigree”, from 1831.[6][5]

Timeline

  • 1668 – filigrane.[2]
  • 1682 – filigreen.[2]
  • 1693 – filigree.[6][2][5]
  • 1831 – verb, to adorn with filigree.[6][5]
  • 1871 – figurative use.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Delicate ornamental work of fine twisted gold, silver or other metal wire.
  2. Any delicate, intricate or fanciful ornament or pattern.

Verb

  1. To decorate with or as if with filigree.
  • filament
  • grain

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Filigree.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/filigree. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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