jewelry English · revision 7630

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=fro joel}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdʒuːəlri/^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English juelrie, jowelrie, [[bor|fro|juelerie|alt=juelerye]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from juel, jowel, [[jewel]], and -rie, [[-ry]].^(MWU 2024)^(Webster's Third 1961) Etymonline suggests that in modern use it is probably a new formation, jewel plus -ery or jeweller plus -y.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Precious ornaments, jewel work: the late 14th century in Etymonline, the 14th century in MW and MWU.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Fowler wrote that the longer form is the commercial and popular one, and the shorter the rhetorical and poetic.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster includes ornaments of materials that may not be precious, such as glass or plastic, set with real or imitation gems.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – juelrye.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Ornaments such as [[bracelet|alt=bracelets]], [[necklace|alt=necklaces]] and [[ring|alt=rings]], made of precious metal often set with [[gem|alt=gems]] or imitation gems.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jewel]]

+ * [[jeweller]]

+ * [[jewellery]]

+ * [[joy]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Jewelry is the American spelling and jewellery the British one.^(LDOCE 2009)^(Chambers 2008) It is an uncountable noun.^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}