Etymologically
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necklace

Etymology and origin of the English word necklace

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1577
Ultimate origins
Old English (hnecca)English (lace)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
English neck
English necklace

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈnɛklɪs/, /ˈnɛkləs/ (UK); /ˈnɛkləs/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is from English neck + lace, lace in the sense of a cord or string.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

An ornament of jewels, beads or metal worn round the neck: about 1590 in the OED, the 1580s in Etymonline;[4][2] Merriam-Webster dates it to 1577.[3]

Semantic evolution

A ribbon or tie for the neck is from 1697,[4] and in transferred use a noose or halter from before 1616.[4] The verb, to form into a necklace, is from 1702.[4] In South Africa from 1985 the necklace was a form of lynching with a burning petrol-soaked tyre round the victim's neck.[2][4][5]

Timeline

  • 1577 – necklace (Merriam-Webster).[3]
  • c. 1590 – a neck ornament.[4]
  • before 1616 – a noose.[4]
  • 1985 – necklacing (South Africa).[2][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A chain or string of beads, jewels or the like worn round the neck as an ornament.
  2. Something resembling this in shape.
  3. (South Africa) A tyre soaked in petrol, placed round a person's neck and set on fire.

Verb

  1. (South Africa) To kill in this way.
  • neck
  • lace
  • pendant
  • choker

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Necklace.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/necklace. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·